Upon the recent directive of the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been summoned to provide a rebuttal to allegations lodged by opposition factions. These complaints assert that Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a discourse in Rajasthan’s Banswara, characterized as divisive and defamatory.
This marks the inaugural occasion where the electoral governing body has acknowledged an accusation of model code transgression against a sitting Prime Minister. Concurrently, the ECI has solicited a response from the Congress party regarding grievances lodged by the BJP against key figures, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, concerning their respective public statements.
In a missive dispatched to BJP’s President, J P Nadda, the ECI has stipulated a deadline of Monday for a rejoinder to complaints lodged by Congress, CPI, and CPI (ML) regarding Prime Minister Modi’s remarks on April 21 in Banswara.
Moreover, Nadda has been tasked with disseminating a notice to all principal campaigners within the party, urging them to uphold elevated standards of political dialogue and adhere scrupulously to the tenets of the model code of conduct.
In elucidating its stance, the Commission underscores the pivotal role of political entities as primary stakeholders in the electoral milieu. Through a myriad of directives and advisories over time, the Commission has endeavored to imbue political parties with greater accountability, transparency, and adherence to democratic principles in their operational framework. Consequently, the Commission posits that political parties bear a paramount and burgeoning responsibility for the conduct of their candidates at large, and star campaigners in particular.
Given the national stature of the BJP, the Commission expects it to serve as an exemplar in political discourse and campaign ethics, thereby ensuring meticulous compliance with the model code of conduct.
Addressing the spate of complaints received from various quarters alleging breaches of the Model Code of Conduct through campaign speeches, the Commission emphasizes its prerogative to hold party heads accountable. While individual star campaigners remain liable for their pronouncements, the Commission reserves the right to engage with the party President or head on a case-by-case basis.
Officials underscore the unprecedented nature of the Commission’s actions, marking the first instance of a complaint being lodged against a sitting Prime Minister. Leveraging provisions of the Representation of the People Act, the Election Commission has initiated measures aimed at reigning in star campaigners, with a focal point on party presidents.
The correspondence dispatched to the BJP and Congress presidents refrains from explicit mention of specific individuals like Modi, Gandhi, or Kharge. However, accompanying each missive are detailed representations outlining the allegations against the aforementioned leaders.
The Congress complaint contends that Modi insinuated during his address that the party harbors intentions of redistributing wealth to the Muslim community, even suggesting a threat to women’s personal adornments. Conversely, the BJP’s grievance against Gandhi revolves around purportedly malicious and baseless allegations made during a speech in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Additionally, Kharge stands accused of violating the model code by alleging discrimination against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes regarding his purported exclusion from the Ram temple consecration ceremony.