'Has EC Become Subsidiary Arm Of BJP?': Atishi Slams Centre For Poll Code Violation Notice

Accusing BJP of planning and plotting the entire episode the Atishi told reporters that the news of her getting an EC notice flashed in news channels before she actually received one. 

File photo of Delhi minister Atishi

Source : PTI Images

After the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday issued a notice to Atishi over an alleged violation of the election code, the Delhi minister said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) planned the entire episode. This comes in reference to her statements where she accused the BJP of using "coercive tactics". The Delhi minister had earlier claimed that the BJP had threatened her with arrest if she did not defect to their party.

Accusing BJP of planning and plotting the entire episode the Atishi told reporters that the news of her getting an EC notice flashed in news channels before she actually received one. Slamming BJP, the Delhi Minister said, "Has EC become a subsidiary organisation of BJP?"

"On 4 April, the BJP registered a complaint against one of my press conferences. On 5 April at 11:15 am, news channels flash that a notice had been sent to the Delhi Minister, but half an hour after the news, I got the notice in the mail. This means that the BJP first plants the Election Commission notice in the media and after that, I get the notice. My question is whether the Election Commission has become a subsidiary organisation of BJP," she said at a press conference. 

#WATCH | Delhi Minister Atishi says, "... On 4 April, the BJP registered a complaint against one of my press conferences. On 5 April at 11:15 am, news channels flash that a notice had been sent to Atishi, but half an hour after the news, I got the notice in the mail. This means… pic.twitter.com/rROnKiI71O

— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2024

In response to a complaint filed by the BJP regarding her remarks, the Election Commission has asked Atishi to provide a detailed response by 5 PM this Saturday. The EC highlighted Atishi's position as a minister in its notice and said that "her public statements hold weight with voters and must be substantiated with factual evidence".

Atishi, who has been involved in managing AAP and Delhi's administrative affairs after the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, had alleged earlier this week that the BJP had made attempts to lure her into joining their party, at the same time threatening her with "consequences" if she refused. Click here to read more. 

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In response to the allegations, The saffron party has refuted Atishi's claims. BJP demanded evidence from Atishi to support her allegations. It has also served the Delhi Minister with a defamation notice against her. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva dismissed Atishi's claims labelling them as "baseless". Read the full report here.