EC warns BJP, Congress: stop star campaigners from making divisive speeches

The Election Commission has issued a stern warning to the BJP and Congress, ordering them to rein in their star campaigners from making statements that can cause tension between different castes and communities.

In separate letters to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and BJP chief JP Nadda on May 22, the poll panel ordered BJP star campaigners to refrain from making remarks "along religious or communal lines" and Congress star campaigners to not spread the “false impression that the Constitution may be abolished”.

While the EC did not name Modi, Rahul or Kharge, it asked the party presidents for their “comments” on the alleged MCC violations by their “star campaigners”.

The letter comes almost a month after the poll panel issued notices to Nadda and Kharge over alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct by their star campaigners.

The poll panel also raised concerns over a significant drop in the quality of campaigning by the star campaigners from both parties.

Referring to the BJP, the ECI noted that the "party currently in power" holds an extra responsibility during election times. The poll panel also pointed out that this does not, however, grant unlimited leeway to the opposition either.

The EC said that it continued to receive complaints after it first issued notice on April 25 on the alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct, noting that the star campaigners continued to make provocative statements.

It asked Nadda and Kharge to “remain dutiful towards special responsibility of star campaigners and issue formal notes to them to maintain decorum in their utterances”, reported Indian Express.

Both were reminded of the MCC provision against aggravating existing differences or creating “mutual hatred” between castes and communities.

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