The Election Commission (EC) has taken a significant step in the ongoing election campaign by issuing notices to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. This development follows complaints lodged by each party against the other, alleging hate speech and violations of the Model Code of Conduct by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi.
The notices from the EC did not directly mention the Prime Minister or Mr. Gandhi but attached copies of the complaints and held party leaders responsible for the statements made by their star campaigners. The EC emphasized the need for a higher quality of discourse in campaign speeches and directed BJP’s JP Nadda and Congress’s Mallikarjun Kharge to ensure compliance with its guidelines.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his campaign in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena, stirred controversy with his remarks about the inheritance tax and allegations against the Congress. He accused the Congress of planning to reintroduce the inheritance tax, abolished by Rajiv Gandhi, and criticized senior Congress leader Sam Pitroda’s suggestion on the matter. The PM’s comments also targeted Rahul Gandhi’s statements on conducting a national caste survey.
The Prime Minister’s speech drew strong reactions from the Congress, which accused him of spreading misinformation and diverting attention from real issues. Rahul Gandhi responded, suggesting that PM Modi was concerned about the BJP’s electoral prospects.
In response to the EC notices, both parties have engaged in a war of words, with the BJP alleging habitual misconduct by Rahul Gandhi and the Congress criticizing PM Modi’s remarks as misleading and aimed at creating enmity.
The ongoing controversy highlights the intense political atmosphere surrounding the elections and the heightened scrutiny of campaign rhetoric by the Election Commission. As campaigning continues, such developments are likely to shape the discourse and dynamics of the electoral landscape.
Sources By Agencies
