On Complaints Against PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi, Poll Body’s Notice To Parties
New Delhi:
The Election Commission on Thursday issued notices to the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress, days after the two rivals traded allegations of Model Code violations in poll speeches by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi.
The poll panel – whose response had been awaited as a litmus test on the conduct of a free and fair election in the country – has sought a response from the presidents of the two parties – the BJP’s JP Nadda and the Congress’ Mallikarjun Kharge – by 11 am Monday, April 29.
It is significant that neither notice named the senior leaders against whom complaints had been made – i.e., the Prime Minister and Rahul Gandhi. Also, each notice contained copies of the rival’s complaint.
It is also significant that, for the first time, party bosses have been held accountable for violations in a campaign speech. This is under Section 77 of the Representation of People Act, which allows parties to name ‘star campaigners’ and they, therefore, have been called on to regulate their speeches.
In a two-page statement issued this morning, the ECI declared “‘star campaigners’ (Prime Minister Modi and Rahul Gandhi have been listed as such) are expected to contribute to a higher quality of discourse… which sometimes gets distorted in the heat of the contests at the local level”.
The ECI said that it is of the “considered view parties will have to take primary and increasing responsibility for the conduct of their candidates in general, and star campaigners in particular”.
“Campaign speeches by those holding high positions are of more serious consequence.”
The EC also said that “while individual star campaigners will continue to remain responsible for speeches made, the commission will address party presidents/head of party on a case-to-case basis”.
Sources also pointed to transgressions by Congress leader Supriya Shrinate and the BJP’s Dilip Ghosh earlier this election season. In both those cases, the Election Commission – which ruled the two made “low-level personal attacks” – issued notices of censure directly to the leaders in question.