The Opposition Congress on Sunday lodged a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Maharashtra, against the ruling BJP-led MahaYuti for putting out “inflammatory” advertisements linking the ongoing Lok Sabha elections to Pakistan that carries such content “aimed at sowing seeds of division among communities”.
In a complaint submitted to the CEO, Maharashtra, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) took a strong objection to an advertisement out by the ruling BJP in a leading Marathi newspaper on behalf of the MahaYuti candidates contesting the Lok Sabha polls which read: “ Because of your vote, where do you want to see celebrations – India or Pakistan?”.
The MPCC stated in its complaint that the advertisement in question not only violated the sanctity of elections but it also posed a threat to the social fabric of the country.
“The advertisement is not only deeply divisive but also insinuates that voting for certain would lead to undesirable consequences akin to the celebrations in Pakistan. Such rhetoric is not only false but also dangerous as it seeks to exploit sentiments of nationalism for political gain,” MPCC’s chief spokesperson Atul Londhe stated in his complaint.
Londhe said that the advertisement amounted to violation of sections 125 and 123 (3A) of the Representation of People’s Act 1951 and sections 153 A and 171 G of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The advertisement should be treated as a corrupt practice as per Model Code of Conduct for political parties and candidates. “Such behaviour not only undermines the democratic process but also erodes public trust in the electoral system,” he said.
Among other things, the MPCC urged the CEO, Maharashtra, to ban/ disqualify all candidates affiliated to the ruling BJP and its allies – Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, prohibit them from contesting any future election and conduct a thorough investigation into the matter to ensure “accountability and deterrence against such actions in the future”.
