Political parties in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh appear to be treating the electoral code of conduct as a monkey on their back. And in an attempt to create problems for political rivals,they are coming up with complaints that defy logic and are eroding their own credibility.
The Congress leads from the front,having complained to the Election Commission over diyas,around Diwali,saying these can rouse religious feelings. The opposition party that is trying desperately to make a comeback to power accused Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of whipping up feelings of one community by releasing newspaper advertisements in the guise of extending Diwali wishes that featured earthen lamps.
It argued that the lamp as a symbol is associated with only one religion by tradition and culture.
The Congress can only be thankful the BJP has not pounced on the complaint yet as another example of the Congress being anti-Hindu.
The complaint was made the day Rahul Gandhi was expected to file a reply to the Election Commission notice to him for his Indore speech,where the Congress vice-president accused the BJP of engineering riots,and how as a result of this communal divide the Pakistani agencies were trying to recruit Muslim youths who lost their relatives in Muzaffarnagar riots.
Earlier party leaders tried to have ponds covered as the lotuses blooming in them could apparently drive a horde of people to vote for the BJP. That suggestion was quickly shot down.
On its part the BJP had objected to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh attending a Ramlila function in New Delhi when its own leaders in Madhya Pradesh were barred from doing so. The party called it a violation of the code of conduct in the poll-bound state because the function was telecast live and watched in MP!
At a time when they are facing rebellion over choice of candidates,both the BJP and Congress would be better served if they spent more energy on campaigning or choosing candidates rather than flooding the Election Commission with complaints.
Milind is a senior assistant editor based in Bhopal
milind.ghatwai@expressindia.com
