Prime Minister Narendra Modi held what the Congress described as a “roadshow” on polling day in Gujarat, with the Election Commission again accused of being a mute spectator to alleged poll code violations by the BJP.
Modi on Monday walked to a polling station in Ahmedabad, greeted people and walked back to his brother’s home after casting his vote, creating a protracted public spectacle on polling day when campaigning in any form is banned.
“Modi holds a two-and-a-half-hour roadshow even while voting. The media is under compulsion to telecast his activities live, but is the Election Commission also under compulsion?”
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said. BJP sources said the walk lasted “only seven to 10 minutes”.
Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee too criticised Modi’s act, asking “is it fair?”, and questioned the Election Commission’s role.
Khera said the Congress had over the past few days lodged several complaints of violations of the model code of conduct with the Election Commission.
“The commission neither hears anything nor sees anything. When polling was happening in the first phase (on December 1), Modi’s roadshow was being telecast live by all the channels,” Khera said.
“Again in the second phase, he does a roadshow. These things don’t affect the commission at all. Coming generations won’t be able to forgive them for remaining a mute spectator to these violations.”
Mamata, speaking before leaving Calcutta for Delhi, said: “If the Prime Minister goes and holds a rally on election day, what do you expect? They (the BJP) may get 100 out of 100 — but is it fair?”
She added: “It’s the Election Commission’s duty (to prevent model code violations). As political parties, we all abide by what the EC says. But I agree 100 per cent with what the Supreme Court said — that there should be a system to nominate the election commissioners.”
A constitution bench of the Supreme Court is hearing a batch of petitions seeking a collegium-like system for selecting election commissioners instead of the Centre unilaterally handpicking them.
Khera said: “We have seen the total inaction, the total silence of the watchdog of our democracy, the watchdog of our elections, that’s the Election Commission of India. We have been making representations at various levels. Every second or third day we have made some representations or the other in Gujarat, in Delhi. We are discussing alternative options and will take legal steps to deal with the inaction of the commission.”
The Congress alleged that BJP goons had attacked Kantibhai Kharadi, its tribal candidate from Danta, and that he had to hide in a forest through the night to save his life. The party said Kharadi had written to the poll panel seeking additional security on the ground that he faced a threat to his life, but no action was taken.
“We have also shared time and again visuals of the BJP distributing liquor in a state where prohibition is in force. The government, the party, the administration, the election machinery, everything is rolled into one in Gujarat,” Khera said.
Modi had earlier too created similar spectacles on polling day. During the 2017 Gujarat Assembly elections, he was accused of holding a “roadshow” after casting his vote.
Congress leader P. Chidambaram had at the time tweeted: “The images on TV will leave no one in doubt that the BJP and Prime Minister have conducted a full-fledged campaign on polling day. Shocking violation of Rules. Election Commission is sleeping on the job.”
The commission took no steps on the Prime Minister’s act.
