Election Commission writes to Nadda, Kharge on poll code complaints against Modi, Shah, Rahul

The commission also exchanged the complaints between the two parties.

In its letter to Kharge, the EC said it had received a complaint from the BJP on November 11 alleging violation of provisions of MCC by the Congress’s star campaigners during canvassing in Jharkhand and Maharashtra, where Assembly elections are ongoing, and in several states where bypolls are being held.

The EC letter to Nadda said the Congress had lodged two complaints dated November 13, 2024 alleging violation of model code by the BJP’s star campaigners during the canvassing for ongoing Assembly elections and bypolls.

The EC drew the attention of both party presidents to earlier notices directing star campaigners of both parties “to refrain from making any statement which is prohibited in Clause (1) of General Conduct of MCC”.

According to the BJP’s complaint, Rahul Gandhi in a speech in Mumbai on November 6 “made totally unverified claims and distorted the truth by stating that Apple’s iPhones and Boeing’s airplanes being manufactured in other states at the expense of the state of Maharashtra”. It said Gandhi’s speech was “full of falsehood and lies, intending to create disaffection, enmity and ill-will between the states”.

In its complaint, the Congress said that in a rally in Dhanbad, November 12, Home Minister’s statements during campaigning in Jharkhand were “blatant in violation of provisions of the Model Code of Conduct as well as extant electoral laws”.

“During his speech, Shah alleged that the INC and its allies were (a) against Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes; (b) promoting terrorism in the country… Shah has also accused the INC of planning to take away reservations from the ST, SC and OBC communities and granting them to members of a particular religious minority community,” it read.

In its complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress alleged that on November 8, during a rally in Nasik and Dhule, he “made a series of false, malicious, and slanderous statements targeting the Congress and its allies”.

“In his statements, Narendra Modi levelled allegations against prominent leaders of the INC and former Prime Ministers,” said the complaint.