The 48 hours before the polling is known as "the silence period", and no advertisement or campaign is allowed during this time.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly violated the election model code of conduct. (Twitter)
With polling for Karnataka Assembly election 2023 hours away, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP’s Karnataka unit reportedly violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
While PM Modi may have violated MCC by putting up a campaign video seeking votes during the ‘silence period’, the BJP’s state unit twitter handle posted a religious chant and sought votes in the name of religion violating MCC.
According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the 48-hour period before polling is known as “the silence period”, during which no advertisement, without certification from the election authorities, and campaign can be done.
The Karnataka Assembly polls for all 224 seats in the state are scheduled on Wednesday, 10 May.
Following PM Modi’s video appeal on Monday night, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge too released a video seeking votes for Congress on Tuesday evening. Former CECs told South First that any campaign carried out during the silence period should be seen as violation of MCC.
While the silence period was in place, the BJP’s official Twitter account (@BJP4India) put up an eight-minute-25-second-long campaign video at 12.21 am on Tuesday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was seeking votes for the party.
The video was also put up on the personal Twitter account of Narendra Modi at 8.52 AM on Tuesday. This video reportedly amounts to a violation of the model code of conduct.
According to the ECI: “Section 126 prohibits displaying any election matter by means, inter alia, of television or similar apparatus (including social media), during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for conclusion of poll in a constituency.”
In this video, Modi was heard saying: “The affection I have received in the state over the last few days has been unparalleled, and it has strengthened the resolve to make it number one across all sectors.”
ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಜನತೆಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಸಂದೇಶ… pic.twitter.com/eFnS8NnWrd
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 9, 2023
Flanked by BJP symbol in the background, on the podium and a logo pinned to his jacket, Modi repeated BJP’s election campaign slogan in the video.
“People have always showered me with love and affection. It feels like a divine blessing to me. ‘Ee Baariya Nirdhara, Bahumatada BJP Sarkara’ (this time’s decision: Majority BJP government). This call of the people of Karnataka is still echoing in my ears,” the Prime Minister said in the video appeal.
Modi, who addressed 19 public rallies and held six roadshows in the state ahead of the polls, also said: “You have witnessed the work of the double-engine BJP government over the last 3.5 years. Our decisive, focused and futuristic policies are imparting momentum to the growth of Karnataka’s economy.”
Amidst the Bajrang Dal row, Modi also took Lord Anjaneya Swami’s name in his speech before concluding to seek votes.
The BJP’s Karnataka unit reportedly violated the poll code guidelines by seeking votes on religious lines.
In a Twitter post, the BJP asked the people to chant “Jai Bajrang Bali” and exercise their franchise – a reiteration of what PM Narendra Modi told a poll rally in Karnataka during campaign.
ಜೈ ಬಜರಂಗಬಲಿ…
ಈ ಬಾರಿಯ ನಿರ್ಧಾರ ಬಹುಮತದ ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಸರ್ಕಾರ…#PoornaBahumata4BJP #BJPYeBharavase pic.twitter.com/NE6sfg3b3Y
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) May 8, 2023
The Bajrang Dal row came to the fore after the Congress announced in its manifesto that it would ban the outfit and the Popular Front of India (PFI).
As per the ECI: “No party or candidate shall include in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic.”
It adds: “There shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes. Mosques, Churches, Temples or other places or worship shall not be used as a forum for election propaganda.”
More than 12 hours after the videos were posted on social media, the ECI is yet to initiate action against the prime minister for violating the MCC.
When South First contacted the chief electoral officer (CEO) of Karnataka to find out whether the video amounted to a violation of the MCC and whether any notice was served to the prime minister, officials said they were examining the video.
“We are examining the video put up by the prime minister on his personal Twitter account. We are seeking more clarification from the chief election commissioner (CEC) on this,” Additional CEO Venkatesh Kumar R told South First.
Former CEC TS Krishnamoorthy told South First: “It has been clearly mentioned that during the silence period, there should not be any kind of campaigning by the political parties. It amounts to a violation of the model code of conduct.”
He added: “Appealing for votes on religion is itself not allowed and is actionable. This is not only applicable during the silence period but also from the day the election code of conduct is imposed.”
Krishnamoorthy also said: “The ECI can issue notices. If there is strong evidence to prove that any political party or its leaders violated the MCC guidelines, action can be taken.”
Congress goes to ECI but AICC President releases video too
It is not just the Prime Minister but also the All Indian Congress Committee chief Mallikarjun Kharge has reportedly violated the guidelines of Model Code of Conduct by posting a campaign video – seeking votes for the Congress – on his social media accounts.
ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಮತದಾರರಿಗೆ ನಮಸ್ಕಾರಗಳು,
ಮೇ 10 ರಂದು ತಾವು ದಯಮಾಡಿ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಪಕ್ಷದ ಹಸ್ತದ ಗುರುತಿಗೆ ಮತ ನೀಡುವುದರ ಮೂಲಕ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಪಕ್ಷಕ್ಕೆ ಆಶೀರ್ವಾದ ಮಾಡಾಬೇಕಾಗಿ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಮನೆಯ ಮಗನಾಗಿ ವಿನಂತಿ ಮಾಡುತ್ತೇನೆ.#ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್_ಬರಲಿದೆ_ಪ್ರಗತಿ_ತರಲಿದೆ pic.twitter.com/0yLglCSxI5
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) May 9, 2023
A 3.17 minutes video appealing the voters to support for Congress in the Karnataka assembly elections has been uploaded on the official twitter account of Kharge at 5:38 pm on Tuesday, 9 May.
In a video, Kharge said: “In a bid to provide social justice to all the communities, Congress has made five guarantee promises in its manifesto.”
He listed out all the five guarantee promises including 200 units of free electricity to every house and Yuva Nidhi, financial assistance for unemployed youth. He also said that they will increase the honorary amount to Asha and Anganwadi workers.
“I appeal everyone to trust on these five guarantees. We will implement the promises on the very first day of coming to power. Everyone should vote for Congress and ensure majority to the party in the elections,” added Kharge.
Meanwhile, Congress filed a complaint with ECI on Modi’s video and demanded action.
If Prime Minister flouts electoral laws & code of conduct for elections with impunity, brazenly and in utter disregard of #ECI directives,
If Prime Minister refuses to so much even recognise the authority of Law and the ECI directives,
If Prime Minister flouts the “silence… pic.twitter.com/sBG6YYdpSz
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) May 9, 2023
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