Congress, BJP flock to ECI; accuses each other of breaching Model Code of Conduct

New Delhi [India], October 25 : As the campaigning gets aggressive, leaders of political parties are leaving no stone unturned to lure the voters and criticise their rivals, Congress leaders submitted a formal representation to the Election Commission of India, lodging a total of eight complaints against BJP leaders and the Telangana government, alleging violations of the Model Code of Conduct.
With the announcement of assembly polls in the five states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Telangana, political parties are lodging complaints with the ECI about the derogatory language used by the prominent leaders in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
The representation was made by Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, Salman Khurshid, AICC Telangana in-charge Manikrao Thakre, and Telangana Congress President Revanth Reddy.
Congress MP Uttam Kumar Reddy and Telangana Congress Legislature Party leader Bhatti Vikramarka were also present.
One of the complaints lodged by the party was against Union Home Minister Amit Shah's election speech in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh.
In the speech, Shah had alleged, "Bhupesh Baghel's government, for appeasement politics, vote bank politics, lynched Chhattisgarh's son Bhuneshwar Sahoo and got him killed..." and later sought votes by stating, "Bharatiya Janata Party has pledged that we will bring justice to Bhuvneshwar Sahoo's killers and in his honor, we are fielding his father Shri. Ishwar Sahoo as a candidate in the elections," according to an official statement issued by Congress.
The party contended that these statements and claims constituted deliberate violations of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the Representation of People Act, 1951.
Congress also registered a complaint to the poll body against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his election speech in Chhattisgarh's Kawardha claiming that he targeted the party candidate Mohd Akbar and and made allegations against state Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel regarding religious conversions.
The party argued that these statements and claims indicated a clear intention to incite divisions within society.
"These statements and claims highlight the clear-cut intention to incite sections of society against one another," the party said.
In its memorandum to the poll body, Congress raised concerns about the Union Government's directives instructing Civil Servants and Indian Army Soldiers to promote the achievements of the BJP-led Union Government. The party alleged that such actions politicized the conduct of Civil Servants and Army Soldiers in violation of the Model Code of Conduct and the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964.
"These acts of politicising the conduct of Civil Servants and Army Soldiers violated the Model Code of Conduct and the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964," an official statement said.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has announced that the first phase of polling for 20 seats in Chhattisgarh will be held on November 7, and the remaining 70 seats in Chhattisgarh will go to polls on November 17. The counting of votes for the 200-seat Rajasthan Assembly, along with those for four other poll-bound states, has been scheduled for December 3.

Accusing the BRS Government of unlawful transfers and posting of police officers in Telangana in view of elections, Congress in its complaint said, "These have been transferred without completing 2.5 years of their tenure as is mandated by the Election Commission."

After meeting with the poll body, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh said, "We have given 8 memorandums, complained about eight things. The first complaint was against the Union Home Minister, regarding one of his statements in Chhattisgarh; second memorandum was against the dangerous statement of the Assam CM in Chhattisgarh's Kawardha, we have complained regarding it, third complaint was against the Central government's notification to make civil servants 'Rath Prabharis'."

Congress leader Salman Khurshid expressed concern about remarks that could potentially worsen the electoral situation.

"Baseless things that are being said are very dangerous. They can deteriorate the election situation. We have an objection regarding it so we have put forward that in front of the Election Commission. Action must be taken, such people must be stopped from contesting elections. There are so many decisions the Election Commission can take, we hope the Election Commission will do something regarding this," he said.
Earlier today, the BJP made a representation to the Election Commission of India and demanded action against Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi over her remarks in Rajasthan's Dausa against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 20.
Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal alleged that Priyanka Gandhi has violated the Model Code of Conduct and that strict action should be taken against her.
"Today we met members of the Election Commission regarding a statement by Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on October 20 that violated the Model Code of Conduct and RP Act. We want to ask ECI if Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is above the Model Code of Conduct. We demand ECI to take action against her," Law Minister Meghwal said.
Earlier Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi in a public event in Dausa on October 20 said," I recently saw something on TV. I don't know if it is true or not. PM Modi went to the Devnarayan temple and submitted an envelope in the donation box. People were wondering what it contained, but when it was opened Rs 21 came out of it."

In this regard, the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly Rajendra Rathore said that Priyanka Gandhi was misleading the public of Rajasthan.

The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with the announcement of poll dates. The elections to five states in Telangana, Rajasthan, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are crucial as they are being held months before the Lok Sabha elections in April-May next year.
The code is basically a set of guidelines to ensure free and fair elections. While the code of conduct does not have any statutory backing, the rules have to be abided by parties, campaigners and candidates during the period it is in force.

For the five state polls, the model code of conduct will be in force till December 3, when votes will be counted and the results declared.