The Election Commission became the battleground for the BJP and the Congress on the eve of the second phase of the assembly elections in Gujarat. If the BJP complained about Congress president-elect Rahul Gandhi violating the model code of conduct (MCC), with his interviews to TV channels getting aired today, the Congress charged Prime Minister Narendra Modi with having breached the rule with his speech at a FICCI meeting.
Acting on a complaint by the BJP, the EC issued a notice to Rahul for violation of the MCC, and asked him to file his response by 5 pm on December 18. “...such display of your interview falls within the definition of the 'election matter' under Section 126 (3) of the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951 and display of such election matter within 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for conclusion of poll, amounts to violation of the prohibition contained in Section 126(1) of the Representation of People Act, 1951...,” said the EC's notice to Rahul. As per MCC norms, campaigning ends 48 hours prior to elections.
The commission also ordered that Rahul's interviews will not be aired, and directed the Chief Electoral Officer of Gujarat to lodge FIRs against the TV channels that showed the interview.
A Congress delegation also approached the commission to complain about violation of MCC by BJP leaders, including Modi. The Congress' complaint was that the prime minister violated the MCC by misusing the FICCI platform to attack the Congress and comment about the UPA government. “The EC should stay unbiased,” said AICC communications department head Randeep Surjewala.
The Congress also complained against BJP chief Amit Shah, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, saying they had repeatedly violated the MCC.
The Congress accused the commission of working under pressure of the ruling dispensation and adopting dual standards. “BJP leaders hold a press conference in Ahmedabad and release the party's manifesto on December 8, but there is no FIR against them. Modiji does four public meetings on December 9, the day of polling, and there is no FIR against him...but there is an FIR for Rahulji's interview,” said Surjewala.
