The Election Commission of India (ECI) has asked BJP President J.P. Nadda and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to respond to complaints filed by both parties during the ongoing assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. This move follows allegations made by each party against key leaders from the opposing side.
On Saturday, the Election Commission sent separate letters to Nadda and Kharge, seeking their responses by 1 PM on Monday, November 18. The complaints were exchanged between the two parties as part of the investigation into the accusations made by BJP and Congress leaders.
The EC reminded the party presidents of an advisory issued earlier in May 2024, during the Lok Sabha elections, urging them to ensure that their campaigns adhere to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and maintain public decorum.
BJP’s Complaint Against Rahul Gandhi
The BJP lodged a complaint against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of making false statements during his campaign speeches. According to the BJP, Gandhi’s remarks were intended to sow discord between Maharashtra and Gujarat and mislead the public. The BJP’s complaint alleges that Gandhi falsely claimed that Apple’s iPhones and Boeing’s airplanes were being manufactured in other states at the expense of Maharashtra, further accusing him of inciting divisiveness.
The BJP has demanded that Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge face legal action, including an FIR, for allegedly spreading misinformation. In their complaint, the BJP also claimed that Gandhi’s statements could harm national unity by inciting Maharashtra’s youth against other states.
Earlier this week, the BJP had filed a separate complaint alleging that some Muslim organizations were attempting to influence voters in Maharashtra and Jharkhand along religious lines in favor of the INDIA alliance.
Congress’ Complaint Against PM Modi and Amit Shah
In contrast, the Congress filed multiple complaints against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote to the Election Commission accusing PM Modi of making divisive comments targeting Congress leadership and its historical figures, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi. The Congress contended that Modi’s statements, which alleged that the Congress party opposed the interests of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC), were designed to create caste-based animosity and undermine the party’s image.
Ramesh argued that Modi’s rhetoric, particularly about Article 370 and caste issues, was intended to promote division and hostility between communities, furthering BJP’s “vitriolic” campaign.
Additionally, Congress raised concerns over a BJP advertisement that allegedly spread baseless claims about the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance, accusing the BJP of spreading false narratives to tarnish its opponents’ reputations. Congress also filed a complaint regarding the grounding of Rahul Gandhi’s helicopter in Jharkhand, claiming that restrictions on his travel were aimed at disrupting his campaign by causing delays and cancellations of his public meetings.
The Election Commission’s actions come amid intensifying political rhetoric in the lead-up to the assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. The poll body is expected to review the complaints and issue further guidance on maintaining a fair electoral environment.
