New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has sent a notice to both the Congress and the BJP for violation of the model code of conduct by Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi respectively. The (ECI) on Thursday wrote to the presidents of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress saying that while the individual star campaigner would continue to remain responsible for speeches made, the Commission will address the party President/Head of the political party, on a case-to-case basis.
Accordingly, in a letter to BJP President JP Nadda, the ECI quoted the complaints filed against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by the Congress and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, on April 21, and the Communist Party of India, on April 23.
“You are also directed, as President of the National Party, to bring to the notice of all your star campaigners to set high standards of political discourse and observe provisions of MCC in letter and spirit,” the ECI said to Nadda, seeking his comments on the same by 11 am on April 29.
The ECI said that as a national party, they are “expected to be the standard bearer in political and campaign discourse” and as such should also set high standards of compliance of the model code of conduct.
The letter was issued as the Commission is in receipt of representation from political parties alleging violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by speeches made during campaigning by “some of your star campaigners”, adding that “these speeches are alleged to be in violation of MCC”.
The three parties wrote to the ECI on the speech of the Prime Minister that he delivered on April 21 in Rajasthan.
The ECI issued a similar notice to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge seeking a response by 11 am on April 29, based on a complaint filed by the BJP.
The poll body attached a BJP letter, dated April 19, that said Rahul violated the model code in his speech in Kottayam in Kerala on April 18.
In the two notices, the poll body said that in view of the foregoing and the plenary power of the political parties to nominate or withdraw the star campaigner’s status with associated responsibility and authority to control their star campaigners, the Commission has taken a view that while the individual star campaigner would continue to remain responsible for speeches made, the Commission will address party President/Head of the political party, on case-to-case basis.
“…yours is a National Party and is therefore expected to be the standard bearer in political and campaign discourse and as such should also set high standards of compliance of the model code of conduct,” it said.
