Election Commission issues notices to Modi, Kharge, and Rahul over MCC violation complaints
- In Reports
- 04:28 PM, Apr 25, 2024
- Myind Staff
In a move unprecedented, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued notices to political parties, requesting responses to alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by their star campaigners.
The poll panel addressed BJP President J P Nadda concerning complaints about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and wrote to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge regarding complaints related to both him and party leader Rahul Gandhi.
This represents a departure from previous practices, where notices of alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) were typically served directly to the candidate or star campaigner implicated.
During the ongoing campaign for the Lok Sabha election 2024, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has notably issued all MCC notices directly to party leaders. These notices have included ones sent to Dilip Ghosh of the BJP, Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala and Supriya Shrinate, and AAP leader Atishi.
The ECI has placed the party presidents on notice, requesting 'comments' from both Nadda and Kharge. Although the Commission's correspondence doesn't directly name the Prime Minister, its letter to Nadda references complaints lodged by the Congress, the Communist Party of India, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist).
Among these complaints is one concerning Modi's recent speech in Banswara, Rajasthan, where he mentioned Muslims and alleged that if the Congress party were to come to power, it might distribute the nation's wealth among "infiltrators" and 'those who have more children".
The ECI's notice to Kharge includes complaints from the BJP, alleging that both he and Rahul Gandhi violated the MCC. The BJP claimed that during a speech in Kottayam on April 18, Gandhi made 'false allegations' against the PM by stating that he advocated for 'one nation, one language, and one religion'.
Additionally, the notice mentions that Kharge said that President Droupadi Murmu was not invited to the Ram Temple consecration ceremony because she is a member of the Scheduled Tribes.
The ECI has instructed both Nadda and Kharge to ensure that their star campaigners uphold high standards of political discourse and adhere to the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
ECI further stated that while individual star campaigners remain responsible for their speeches, the Commission will address party Presidents or heads of political parties on a case-by-case basis regarding MCC violations.
Image source: Indian express
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