The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday issued show-cause notices to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi for certain comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They have been asked to file their responses by Thursday.
While Priyanka has received the notice regarding a comment made at a rally, Kejriwal got the notice related to social media posts directed at Modi.
The notices come amid the month-long election cycle covering the five states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Mizoram. The results will be out on December 3. Barely four months before the 2024 national elections, these assembly elections are set to set the tone for the nationwide polls.
Both notices have been issued after Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) filed formal complaints with the ECI.
Priyanka Gandhi gets ECI's notice for PSU comment
Congress leader Priyanaka Gandhi has received the show-cause notice over a comment on a public sector undertaking (PSU), according to a copy of the notice shared by ANI.
As per the copy, Priyanka at a rally in Madhya Pradesh said Modi had sold the PSU Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) to his industrialist friends. In its complaint, the BJP had said that "unverified and false statements" were made in the speech.
"Modi Ji should tell why he hold BHEL to his big industrialist friends. Modi Ji should tell what he did with BHEL, from which we got employment and the nation was progressing, and who he did give it to," said Priyanka at the rally in Hindi, according to the text mentioned in the ECI's notice shared by ANI.
Kejriwal gets notice for social media posts
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday got the ECI notice for a series of posts on social media that allegedly contain "disparaging" remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In its complaint to the ECI, the BJP had termed the posts "very unacceptable" and "unethical", according to PTI.
The PTI reported that the AAP on Wednesday had tweeted a video featuring industrialist Gautam Adani and Modi. The agency further said the next day the party posted a picture of Adani and Modi and alleged Modi works for the industrialist and not the people.
"The present alleged matter has been found to be posted from the handle of the Aam Aadmi Party itself, which being a national party is expected to exercise caution through verification of facts before publishing and disseminating such content in public domain," said ECI in the notice, as per PTI.
The ECI further said, "The national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party is hereby called upon to explain the statements/allegations/averments, made in the alleged social media posts under reference, against a star campaigner (PM Modi) of another national party and against the political party and by insinuation and innuendo against the candidates for the state elections and to show cause why appropriate action for violation of model code of conduct read with relevant election and penal laws should not be taken against you...In the event of no response from your side within the stipulated time, it will be presumed that you have nothing to say in the matter and the Election Commission will take appropriate action or decision in the matter without making any further reference to you."
