Lok Sabha Elections 2024: TMC's Rajya Sabha MP, Saket Gokhale, has voiced apprehensions regarding the Election Commission of India's handling of BJP's recent tweet promoting votes through religious sentiment, raising questions about impartiality in enforcing Model Code of Conduct (MCC) regulations.
Gokhale pointed out the apparent leniency shown towards the BJP, contrasting it with instances where tweets from other parties were swiftly taken down. He shared a screenshot of the BJP's tweet featuring an image of Lord Ram's idol at the Ayodhya temple, coupled with text urging support for the party.
"The Election Commission pontificates about not using religion in campaigning but will ignore this completely," Gokhale criticized in his tweet.
Meanwhile, the BJP's tweet, titled "The power of your 'one vote'!", sparked controversy for its use of religious imagery to sway voters. Despite objections raised by fact checkers and opposition voices, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Election Commission's response remains awaited.
Election Commission pontificates about “not using religion” in campaigning but will ignore this completely.
— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) April 18, 2024
Tweets by other parties on X get taken down however but not the BJP.
Will @SpokespersonECI & @ECISVEEP care to tell us why BJP is so openly exempt from MCC rules? pic.twitter.com/SBXasx7EyV
Opposition parties, including AAP, have accused the Election Commission of bias in favor of the ruling BJP, citing instances where the EC allegedly overlooked violations of MCC guidelines by the saffron party.
AAP's spokesperson, Priyanka Kakkar, expressed frustration over the perceived inaction by the EC in response to complaints lodged against BJP's social media posts and hoardings. Kakkar criticized the EC's failure to address the concerns promptly, labeling it as a partisan extension of the ruling party.
Bagga @TajinderBagga knows how to twist by saying 'They hate Ram Mandir'.
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) April 17, 2024
It's not about Mandir in the background, but by what's written in the poster is a violation of the election code of conduct.
C'C : @rajivkumarec @SpokespersonECI @ECISVEEP https://t.co/ZBrbhun4wy pic.twitter.com/P7RAD3XVxT
Meanwhile, reports emerged of the EC instructing a social media platform to remove select posts from various political parties, including the YSR Congress Party, the Telugu Desam Party, AAP, and BJP. The move raised further eyebrows, with questions raised over the EC's impartiality in enforcing electoral regulations.
As the political landscape continues to be marred by allegations of bias and selective enforcement, the role of the Election Commission in upholding electoral integrity remains under scrutiny. The demand for transparency and fairness in the electoral process echoes louder amidst growing concerns over partisan influences.