Election Commission issues notice to Haryana BJP for featuring child in assembly poll campaign video

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has sought a response from Haryana unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for using a child in assembly election campaign video on its X handle. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Haryana has issued a show cause notice to the BJP state president for immediate corrective action.

“The state president of the BJP has also been asked to submit aresponse by 6 pm on August 29,” said news agency ANI. The campaign video featuring a child with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was shared on X on August 27. 

Haryana will vote for electing the 90-member assembly in a single phase on October 1.

Use of children in poll campaigns is banned by Election Commission of India. In February, the poll panel said it had issued directions to political parties to refrain from using children in election campaigns, conveying that it would have a ‘zero tolerance’ approach on the issue.

“The Election Commission of India has issued strict directives regarding use of children in any election-related activities. Political parties have been advised not to use children in election campaigns in any form whatsoever including distribution of posters/pamphlets or to participate in slogan shouting, campaign rallies, election meetings, etc,” a statement by ECI said.

The 36-second video shared on Haryana BJP's X handle features many kids with the Chief Minister. It starts with a kid saying, ‘Ab ki baar Haryana mein Saini Sarkar,’ followed by many visuals showing Saini with different kids.

In the 2019 assembly polls, the BJP won 40 seats in Haryana and formed a coalition government with the Dushyant Chautala-led Jannayak Janta Party, which had won 10 seats in the 90-member assembly. BJP leader Manohar Lal Khattar became the chief minister. 

The BJP-JJP alliance broke earlier this year. Khattar has since moved to Union government where he is a minister in PM Narendra Modi-led cabinet. Khattar was replaced by Nayab Singh Saini who took oath as chief minister in June this year.