The EC issued notices to BJP and Congress over alleged model code violations by PM Narendra Modi and MP Rahul Gandhi. (Image: PTI/File)
Sources said the BJP has sought a week’s time while the Congress has asked for 14 days to reply to the EC notices issued to party heads JP Nadda and Mallikarjun Kharge
The BJP and Congress have sought more time from the Election Commission of India to reply to notices issued to the parties over alleged model code violations by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi.
The poll body issued notices to both the parties on April 25, asking for a reply on the morning of April 29. According to sources, while the BJP has asked for one week’s time to respond to the notice, the Congress has asked for 14 days. Initially, the Congress had sought time till 5 pm on Monday, as against the original deadline but later said it will need two weeks’ time.
Last week, in a different approach to model code violations by leaders of political parties, the EC wrote to the BJP and Congress saying it will address the party heads on a case-to-case basis; the individual star campaigner will continue to be responsible for their speeches, it said.
In its letter to BJP president JP Nadda, the EC raised the complaints registered against the prime minister by the Congress and CPI(M) on April 21, as well as the CPI on April 23. The three parties complained about Prime Minister Modi’s speech in Rajasthan’s Banswara on April 21.
For the Congress, the letter was issued based on a complaint lodged by the BJP. The poll body had
sought a response by 11 am on April 29 from party president Mallikarjun Kharge. The BJP letter dated April 19, which was attached to the notice, stated that Rahul Gandhi violated the model code of conduct while addressing a public gathering in Kerala’s Kottayam on April 18.
In the notices, the EC said the two parties are national and, hence, are “…expected to be the standard bearer in political and campaign discourse and, as such, should also set high standards of compliance of the model code of conduct”. Usually, the individual who violates the election code gets the notice but this time, instead of writing to a particular leader, the poll body held the party head responsible.
Out of seven phases of the Lok Sabha elections, polling for two is complete. The counting of votes is on June 4.
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