EC Asks Nadda, Kharge To Comment On Poll Code Violation Complaints

Amid the assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has become a central figure due to complaints from both the BJP and Congress. On November 16, 2024, letters were dispatched by the ECI to BJP President JP Nadda and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. They were asked to respond to each other's complaints by 1 pm on November 18.

The BJP's primary complaint was directed at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. They accused him of making "false" statements that allegedly aimed to create divisions among Indian states. The party claimed Gandhi misled people by saying Apple's iPhones and Boeing's airplanes were being produced elsewhere at Maharashtra's cost. This, according to them, was an attempt to provoke Maharashtra's youth and threaten national unity.

Political Tensions Intensify

In response, the BJP demanded an FIR against Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge for their remarks. Additionally, they filed another complaint alleging certain Muslim organisations were trying to disrupt the electoral environment in Maharashtra and Jharkhand by urging votes for the INDIA bloc based on religion.

On the other hand, Congress lodged complaints against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused PM Modi of making statements against Congress leadership that were allegedly anti-SC, ST, and OBC communities. Ramesh argued these speeches aimed to incite religious and caste-based hostility while damaging Congress's image.

Allegations Against Campaign Practices

The Congress also protested a BJP advertisement that allegedly misrepresented JMM-Congress-RJD alliance leaders with false claims. They argued this violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), which prohibits campaigning based on misinformation about political opponents or candidates.

Another significant complaint from Congress involved Rahul Gandhi's helicopter being grounded in poll-bound Jharkhand. They claimed this disrupted their campaign schedule and sought urgent intervention from the ECI to ensure fair play for all parties during election campaigns.

ECI's Role Amidst Rising Complaints

The ECI decided to involve party presidents directly following escalating accusations between these major national parties. The commission reminded both parties of an advisory issued on May 22, 2024, during Lok Sabha Elections, stressing public decorum and strict adherence to MCC during campaigns.

These exchanges between BJP and Congress underscore their intense rivalry amid ongoing assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. The ECI's responses will be crucial in maintaining electoral integrity and fairness as tensions rise between these political entities.