What About Action Against Prime Minister And Home Minister If They Breach The Model Code Of Conduct?

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday released the schedule and other important details for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced that the Lok Sabha elections 2024 will be held in 7 phases between April 19 to June 1, and the results for the elections will be published on June 4, 2024.

He also shared the details about the preparations that election commission officials have made to conduct smooth and rigorous free polling. CEC also warned political parties not to breach the Model Code of Conduct, starting from today itself till the completion of the election process, or else stringent actions will be taken against the culprits.

Rajiv Kumar said no comment that hurts religious sentiments, creates a divide, polarizes the voters, or violates the model code of conduct will be tolerated, adding people who will violate the model code of conduct will not be spared and action will be initiated against such leaders or campaigners.

He further added that no political party is allowed to use children in their political rallies.

In the question and answer round, a reporter questioned the Chief Election Commissioner about "action on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah when it comes to breach of the Model Code Of Conduct or the commission only takes action against Opposition leaders", to which, Rajiv Kumar replied that election commission never takes any biased action.

"We have served notices to many big leaders and asked for clarification from them in the past. EC has a moral sensor. And no matter what, if anyone breaches the code of conduct the commission will not sit back and initiate the proceedings even against the highest star campaigner of any political front," the ECE said.

In 2019, many leaders had crossed the line and passed statements to create polarization, however, the EC slapped only a few with show cause notice.