ECI ACTS ON COMPLAINTS AGAINST MODI & RAHUL

Nadda, Kharge asked to respond to notices by April 29

- ASHISH SINHA

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday took note of alleged model code of conduct violations by PM Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. The poll panel has sought responses from both the Congress and BJP by April 29.

In its letter addressed to BJP President J P Nadda, the Election Commission asked him to respond by April 29 to complaints filed by the Congress, CPI and CPI (ML) regarding the remarks made by Modi on April 21 in Banswara.

It also asked Nadda to bring to the notice of all star campaigners of the party to “set high standards of political discourse and observe provisions of model code of conduct in letter and spirit”.

Sources told The Daily Guardian that it is the first time that the panel has taken cognizance of a complaint against any Prime Minister. The Election Commission has invoked provisions of the Representation of the People Act to hold party presidents as the first step to rein in star campaigners.

It wrote a similarly-worded letter separately to the Congress president with regard to allegations levelled by the BJP against him and Gandhi.