News Analysis India

Tag: poll code violation

  • Priyanka Gandhi, Himanta Biswa Sarma get EC notice over poll code violations

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Thursday issued separate show cause notices to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of the BJP for prima facie violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

    Officials said the two leaders have been asked to respond by October 30 evening, and if they do not, it will be presumed they have nothing to say and the commission will take a decision without making any further reference to them.

    Congress general secretary Vadra was served a notice over her “envelop” remarks related to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s temple visit.

    The EC action came a day after the BJP filed a complaint against her.

    The BJP had accused Priyanka Gandhi of “invoking the personal religious devotion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi” to make false claims during her poll campaign in Rajasthan and urged the Election Commission to take action against her.

    Vadra, the BJP noted in its submission, told a public meeting in Dausa on October 20 that she saw it on TV that when an envelope of donation made by Modi at a temple was opened, it carried only Rs 21.

    She added that she saw the news and is not aware if the claim is true or not, the BJP’s complaint read.

    She then went on to launch an attack on the BJP saying that “envelops” are shown to the public by the party but nothing is found in them after elections.

    Referring to the two notices, a poll panel functionary mentioned the recent remarks of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar expressing concern over the “plummeting” level of the poll campaign and the EC’s efforts to curb remarks violative of the poll code and law.

    Elections in Rajasthan are due on November 25.

    The notice to BJP leader Sarma was issued for his remarks targeting Chhattisgarh minister Mohammad Akbar, the Congress’ candidate from Kawardha, during the campaign last week.

    The Congress filed a complaint with the EC against Sarma on Wednesday.

    In a speech in Kawardha in Chhattisgarh on October 18, Sarma had taken a controversial dig at Akbar saying that “the land of Mata Kaushalya will get defiled if Akbar isn’t sent off.”

    “If one Akbar comes to some place, he calls 100 Akbars. So, send him off as soon as possible, otherwise the land of Mata Kaushalya will get defiled,” he said.

    It is believed Mata Kaushalya, the mother of Lord Ram, was from what is modern-day Chhattisgarh.

    Sarma also attacked the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government in Chhattisgarh over several issues, including religious conversion.

    “Today, the tribals of Chhattisgarh, who are dear to us, are being encouraged to convert on a daily basis. And when someone raises their voice against it, Bhupesh Baghel ji says ‘we are secular’. Is beating up Hindus your secularism? This country is a country of the Hindus and will belong to Hindus. Do not teach us secularism, we do not need to learn secularism from you,” he said.

    In its complaint to the Election Commission, the Congress alleged that Sarma’s remarks showed a clear-cut intention to incite sections of society against one another.

    While issuing the notice to Sarma, the Election Commission reminded him of a provision in the poll code that states that “no party or candidate shall include in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic.”

    Elections to the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly will be held in two phases – on November 7 and 17. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Thursday issued separate show cause notices to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of the BJP for prima facie violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

    Officials said the two leaders have been asked to respond by October 30 evening, and if they do not, it will be presumed they have nothing to say and the commission will take a decision without making any further reference to them.

    Congress general secretary Vadra was served a notice over her “envelop” remarks related to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s temple visit.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });

    The EC action came a day after the BJP filed a complaint against her.

    The BJP had accused Priyanka Gandhi of “invoking the personal religious devotion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi” to make false claims during her poll campaign in Rajasthan and urged the Election Commission to take action against her.

    Vadra, the BJP noted in its submission, told a public meeting in Dausa on October 20 that she saw it on TV that when an envelope of donation made by Modi at a temple was opened, it carried only Rs 21.

    She added that she saw the news and is not aware if the claim is true or not, the BJP’s complaint read.

    She then went on to launch an attack on the BJP saying that “envelops” are shown to the public by the party but nothing is found in them after elections.

    Referring to the two notices, a poll panel functionary mentioned the recent remarks of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar expressing concern over the “plummeting” level of the poll campaign and the EC’s efforts to curb remarks violative of the poll code and law.

    Elections in Rajasthan are due on November 25.

    The notice to BJP leader Sarma was issued for his remarks targeting Chhattisgarh minister Mohammad Akbar, the Congress’ candidate from Kawardha, during the campaign last week.

    The Congress filed a complaint with the EC against Sarma on Wednesday.

    In a speech in Kawardha in Chhattisgarh on October 18, Sarma had taken a controversial dig at Akbar saying that “the land of Mata Kaushalya will get defiled if Akbar isn’t sent off.”

    “If one Akbar comes to some place, he calls 100 Akbars. So, send him off as soon as possible, otherwise the land of Mata Kaushalya will get defiled,” he said.

    It is believed Mata Kaushalya, the mother of Lord Ram, was from what is modern-day Chhattisgarh.

    Sarma also attacked the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government in Chhattisgarh over several issues, including religious conversion.

    “Today, the tribals of Chhattisgarh, who are dear to us, are being encouraged to convert on a daily basis. And when someone raises their voice against it, Bhupesh Baghel ji says ‘we are secular’. Is beating up Hindus your secularism? This country is a country of the Hindus and will belong to Hindus. Do not teach us secularism, we do not need to learn secularism from you,” he said.

    In its complaint to the Election Commission, the Congress alleged that Sarma’s remarks showed a clear-cut intention to incite sections of society against one another.

    While issuing the notice to Sarma, the Election Commission reminded him of a provision in the poll code that states that “no party or candidate shall include in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic.”

    Elections to the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly will be held in two phases – on November 7 and 17. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • EC holds Himanta guilty of violating poll code, Assam CM says will abide by panel’s directions

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: The Election Commission served a notice on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for violating the model code of conduct and he said he would abide by the EC’s directions.

    Assam Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah and Congress Legislature Party leader Debabrata Saikia had lodged separate complaints, backed by video evidence and newspaper clippings, with the EC alleging that Sarma had violated the poll code.

    In the notice to the CM, the EC said it was confirmed that he had made promises and announcements during his bypoll campaign speeches at various places.

    “Debabrata Saikia and Bhupen Kumar Borah alleged that you, in the capacity of the Chief Minister and the designated star campaigner for BJP, have made several announcements at various election meetings…for establishing the medical college, bridges, roads, high schools, stadium, sports complex etc and also made announcements for giving financial assistance to self-help groups of tea garden workers and for development projects in the constituencies,” the notice reads.

    “By making the statements, you have violated the model code of conduct. The Commission gives you an opportunity to explain your position in this regard on or before 1700 hours of Tuesday. If no explanation is received within the time limit, the Commission shall take a decision without any further reference to you,” the notice further reads.

    Sarma criticised the Congress for moving the Commission. He said the party stood opposed to the government working for the welfare of the people.

    “They (Congress) raised objections to announcements on welfare schemes and the construction of a medical college. People will get the benefits of the schemes which have been already announced in the budget. I will abide by the EC’s directions,” the CM said.

    The Congress hailed the EC for taking cognisance of his violations of the model code of conduct.

    “The most important fact that the Election Commission should take note of is that Sarma is the constitutional head of the state and he is supposed to respect the model code of conduct. But instead, it is seen how brazenly he is violating the rules without consideration, giving the impression that those in power are not accountable to anybody. This reflects a complete lack of respect for institutions and rules,” the Congress said.

    It demanded that the EC bar Sarma from campaigning based on the audio-visual evidence. The party said this would set a precedent that the poll rules needed to be followed and not disregarded by those in power.

  • Congress moves EC against Assam CM Himanta’s poll code ‘violation’

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: The Congress in Assam on Saturday petitioned the Election Commission alleging that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had blatantly and brazenly violated the model code of conduct by making new announcements during bypoll campaign.

    In a memorandum submitted to the state’s chief electoral officer, the party listed some examples of his violation of the model code of conduct which was backed by video evidence.

    The Congress said Sarma had made a slew of announcements for the 40 tea gardens of the Mariani constituency, such as a package of Rs 1 crore for each garden, thus promising Rs 40 crore to develop the line roads in the gardens.

    The Congress also said that he had promised to incorporate each garden into the Jal Jeevan Scheme and announced 10 new high schools in the gardens. At Hatigarh, the party said, he had made an on-the-spot announcement for the setting up of a school at the request of the candidate.

    “He announced financial assistance to self-help groups of women tea workers. He also announced that casual labourers in the tea gardens will be incorporated into the MGNREGA scheme and given MGNREGA cards,” the Congress memorandum reads.

    At a campaign meeting in the Bhawanipur constituency, the Congress said Sarma, pointing out to a person, publicly announced that he should be provided with a house under the PMAY scheme and whoever is responsible to do so should immediately allot him the house.

    The Congress said Sarma had also made announcements to set up a medical college and build two bridges over two rivers in poll-bound Thowrah constituency in violation of the model code of conduct.

    “The CM has lowered the prestige of the Indian parliamentary system, election system, and the Constitution. Such statements are totally unbecoming since he is the CM of not only the people, who voted for the ruling party but also all people of Assam irrespective of party affiliation. But the very fact that he has made such statements expressed his total lack of respect, disdain, and disregard for rules or laws as per the Constitution,” the Congress further wrote. 

  • Bhowanipore bypoll: BJP candidate Priyanka Tibrewal gets notice for poll code violation

    By Express News Service

    KOLKATA: The returning officer of Bhowanipore Assembly constituency issued a notice to BJP candidate Priyanka Tibrewal, who is contesting against CM Mamata Banerjee in the by-election scheduled to be held on September 30, citing alleged violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and established Covid-19 protocols while filing her nomination. 

    The poll panel’s move came after the Trinamool Congress alleged that Priyanka violated the MCC and Covid-related restrictions by gathering a mob of not less than 500 without any permission. 

    In the complaint, it was also alleged that she even performed ‘Dhunuchi Nach’ (traditional Bengali dance during Durga Puja) at places on the way to file her nomination. 

    ALSO READ | Bhowanipore bypoll: BJP candidate Priyanka Tibrewal holds rally ahead of filing nomination

    The returning officer referred to the report submitted by the officer-in-charge of Bhowanipore police station where he mentioned traffic snarl triggered by the massive assembly of BJP supporters. 

    Priyanka, in her reply, refused to accept the allegation. “I had not led any crowd. It is not my duty to see who was on the road on bikes and four-wheelers. It’s the job of the police and the local administration,” she said. 

    Claiming that she had followed all protocols, Priyanka said, “I would like to point out that other than Suvendu Adhikari, there was no one in the vehicle in which I travelled to file my nomination.”

    It was Adhikari, former lieutenant of Mamata, who defeated the Chief Minister in Nandigram.