Election Commission issues notice to Nagaland Congress candidate against religious appeal ahead of Lok Sabha polls

New Delhi [India], April 18 : With just hours left ahead of the polling of the 18th Lok Sabha elections, the Chief Electoral Officer of Nagaland issued notice to Congress candidate S Supongmeren Jamir for making an appeal to the voters on religious lines.
The warning came in response to a complaint lodged by Imchainba, President of the BJP Dimapur District, alleging a breach of electoral conduct.
"Whereas, a complaint has been received from lmchainba, President BJP, Dimapur District, dated 17th April 2024 addressed to the Election Commission of lndia, through the Office of the Undersigned and received at around 1730 hrs and the said complaint being addressed to the Election Commission of lndia has been forwarded to the Commission vide letter No. ELEICDT -1 5/2024 dated April 17, 2024," the letter stated.
The letters, addressed to local councils, purportedly contained appeals of a religious nature, warning against the perceived consequences of voting for the incumbent BJP government.
"Whereas, in the said letters (as freely translated from Ao dialect by this office), you have said that, "other religious believers are being threatened and being persecuted," it added.
Whereas the letters go on to state that, "At present, the BJP government is in power and through them, the BJP and RSS are working together to make India one nation, one culture and one religion only." And additionally, the letters also state that, "in the forthcoming MP election leaded by the BJP Government, if voted to power again, it will be very difficult to for our people to live on." The letters conclude, by stating that, "l would like to urge all the people of the Ao tribes in Dimapur and its periphery to think wisely and cast your precious vote prayerfully in order to have a better tomorrow."
The letter further stated that, as per sub-section 3 of Section 123 of the Representation of
People Act, 1951, appealing by a candidate to vote on the ground of his religion is a corrupt practice.
The letter read that the Conduct for Guidance of Political Parties and Candidates stated that, "no party or candidate shall include in any activity that may aggravate existing differences, create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic."
"Whereas, Clause (3) of Part I General Conduct of the Model Code of Conduct for Guidance of Political Parties and Candidates, inter alia, states that there shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes," it added.
Now, therefore, you, Shri S Supongmeren Jamir, are strictly cautioned against appealing to communal feelings for securing votes in favour of your candidature for the 1- Nagaland Parliamentary Constituency in the General Elections to the Lok Sabha 2024, it added.
The electoral fate of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Chumben Murry and INDIA (Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance) candidate S Supongmeren Jamir will be decided on April 19 in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls.
The Lok Sabha elections are set to commence on April 19 to elect 543 Members of Parliament. Nagaland, situated in the north-east region of India, houses a single constituency in the Lok Sabha.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the NDPP-BJP coalition secured a significant victory over the Indian National Congress, emerging as the winner. The Nagaland Parliamentary Constituency, the sole Lok Sabha seat in the state, remains unreserved.
Political leaders have also been referring to efforts for a solution to the Naga political issue.