EC seeks responses from BJP’s JP Nadda, Congress’ Mallikarjun Kharge on complaints against each other
The Election Commission wrote to BJP president JP Nadda and asked him to comment on the complaint filed by the Congress against the BJP. The poll body send a similar letter to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, seeking response on complaints filed against his party by the BJP.
The Election Commission wrote separate letters to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief JP Nadda and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday as both parties filed several complaints against each other ahead of the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections.
In the letter, the Election Commission asked Nadda and Kharge to comment on the complaints filed by one another. The Commission exchanged the complaints between the two parties while seeking their responses.
The Election Commission sought formal responses from both the party presidents by 1:00 pm on Monday, November 18, news agency ANI reported. It asked BJP president JP Nadda and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to comment on the complaint against star campaigners of the other party.
The Election Commission also reminded the two parties of the poll body's earlier advisory to them dated May 22, 2024 during Lok Sabha Elections.
The Commission had then asked them to keep star campaigners and leaders under check so that public decorum is not flouted and the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is followed in letter and spirit during election campaign.
Top leaders of the BJP and the Congress have been campaigning extensively in Jharkhand and Maharashtra for the ongoing Assembly polls.
BJP, Congress' complaints
The BJP had on November 11 lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's claim that the BJP wanted to "destroy the Constitution."
"A delegation of the BJP met the Chief Election Commissioner...We told him that on 6th November, LoP Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi tried to lie once again for Maharashtra elections he attempted to pit states against each other, he waved the Constitution and lied again that the BJP is about to destroy the Constitution," Union minister and BJP leader Arjun Ram Meghwal was quoted by ANI as saying.
The Congress had complained to the EC on November 13 against Prim Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleging violation of Model Code of Conduct. Party leader Jairam Ramesh, in a post on X, accused the two BJP leaders of "divisive, false, and malicious speeches" in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.
Last Sunday, the Congress lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against the BJP, accusing the party of posting a misleading advertisement on social media that contained false information about the leaders of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Indian National Congress (INC), and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
The complaint specifically referred to an advertisement posted on Facebook on November 9, 2024. The Congress claimed that the ad was in blatant violation of the Model Code of Conduct and other electoral laws.
The first phase of the Jharkhand Assembly elections has concluded with voting held in 43 of 81 assembly seats. Elections for the remaining 38 seats in Jharkhand and 288 seats in Maharashtra will take place on November 20. Votes will be counted on November 23.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Business NewsElectionsAssembly ElectionsEC seeks responses from BJP’s JP Nadda, Congress’ Mallikarjun Kharge on complaints against each other
First Published:16 Nov 2024, 04:51 PM IST
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