The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday directed Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda and Congress party president Mallikarjun Kharge to issue formal notes to star campaigners to "correct" their discourse, exercise care and maintain decorum. This directive comes in response to the deteriorating quality of campaigning, particularly concerning the discourse and decorum maintained by top leaders of the respective parties.
"Election Commission of India (ECI) directs BJP president JP Nadda and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to issue formal notes to star campaigners to correct their discourse, exercise care and maintain decorum. Commission’s unprecedented orders to BJP and INC in the wake of plummeting quality of campaigning led by their star campaigners," the Election Commission said.
Earlier, both parties had lodged complaints against each other with the Election Commission. In response, the ECI had initiated inquiries, seeking clarifications from the accused leaders. Today, however, the EC dismissed the defences presented by both the parties.
In its letter to Nadda, the ECI highlighted the expectations for the BJP, as the ruling party, to align its campaign strategies with the diverse and sensitive nature of society.
"As the ruling party at the Centre to fully align the campaign methods to the practical aspects of the composite and sensitive fabric of India," the poll body said.
The Commission directed the BJP to ensure that its star campaigners refrain from making statements that contravene the Model Code of Conduct. "No Party or candidate shall include in any activity which may aggravate existing difference or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic," it said.
Furthermore, the ECI instructed the BJP to enforce decorum in the speeches of its star campaigners. It asked Nadda to ensure that his party members would "not make speeches and statements, which may divide the society". It also directed the star campaigners to "refrain from any campaigning methods/utterances along religious communal lines".
Similarly, in its missive to Kharge, the EC reiterated the need for the Congress party to tailor its campaign methods to suit the complexities of Indian society. The poll body directed Kharge to ask his star campaigners to "desist as part of the election campaigning from indulging in any political propaganda involving activities of the Defence forces and not to make potentially divisive statements regarding the socio-economic composition of Defence forces".