Election Commission seeks report as Congress complains against PM Modi’s 'road show'

The Election Commission on Tuesday sought a report after Congress complained against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘roadshow’ after casting his vote on Tuesday. The Congress complained that the prime minister made a political speech during the ‘roadshow’ in violation of the model code of conduct. The Congress has also demanded a campaign ban of 2-3 days on him for being an ‘uncaring offender’.

Following a complaint by the Congress, the poll panel has sought a report on the matter from the Chief Election Officer of Gujarat.

Earlier, the Congress delegation comprising Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Jairam Ramesh, and K Raju also made a representation to the EC over the alleged model code of conduct violation by Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah and demanded a 72-hour campaign ban on him.

The opposition leaders told the poll panel that Shah ‘openly raised Balakot air strikes, Pulwama attack, and armed forces’ while seeking votes in Krishnanagar, West Bengal.

The grand old party strongly raised the issue of an alleged violation of the model code of conduct by PM Modi.

After casting his vote at the polling station at Nishan High School in Ranip area, PM Modi walked some distance and interacted briefly with mediapersons.

"Prime Minister is occupying a high post. The bigger the post, the bigger the responsibility. We have told the Election Commission that instead of caring about the responsibility, the Prime Minister is repeatedly violating the model code of conduct," Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters outside the EC.

He said the Congress had written to the EC last night complaining about the "violation of the model code of conduct" by the prime minister after casting his vote in the past.

"Our prediction came true as in today's polling after casting his vote, the Prime Minister took out a long road show, gave speeches and political statements soon after voting," Singhvi said.

There has never been such clear and transparent violation of the model code of conduct, Singhvi alleged.

The Congress memorandum to the EC alleged that the Prime Minister had made detailed plans to undertake, in defiance of electoral laws, a roadshow before and after he voted.

"We urged the Commission to take preventive steps as the Prime Minister has a history of violating the law by taking out elaborate road shows in the general elections 2014 and Gujarat Assembly Elections in 2017," the memorandum said.

The Congress' memorandum against Shah called for urgent and necessary directions against the BJP chief for what it termed as "continuous and repeated" violation of the model code of conduct.

With PTI Inputs