Karnataka Polls: Gehlot Urges EC To Ban Modi's Campaign, Cong Submits Complaint Against Top BJP Leaders

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot urged the EC to ban PM Modi from campaigning in Karnataka ahead of the Elections. It also has submitted a memorandum against other top BJP leaders.

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot during a press conference

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot launched an attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday by urging the Election Commission (EC) to ban Modi from campaigning in the poll-bound state of Karnataka. While speaking at a press conference, he accused the Prime Minister of seeking votes in the southern state on the basis of religion. He also took a jibe at the BJP over an alleged threat by a Congress party candidate in the Karnataka polls to wipe out both Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge as well as his family, reported news agency PTI.

Citing the law, he said, "Read the law... if someone talks in the name of religion, on religious grounds in an election campaign, a ban should be imposed."

Reporters then asked if Bajrang Dal will be banned in Rajasthan or not, and he responded by saying "Whatever may be the name of an organisation... the real question is what is the role of that organisation."

Congress in its manifesto for the Karnataka polls said it was committed to taking firm and decisive action against individuals as well as organisations such as the Bajrang Dal and the PFI for "spreading hatred" among the citizens on the basis of caste and religion.

Congress Complains To EC After PM Modi Accuses It Of 'Shielding Terrorism'

Congress also wrote to the EC seeking action against PM Modi for his "Congress shielded terrorism for vote bank" remark and said he has crossed the "Lakshman Rekha". While taking strong objections to Modi's charge at a rally held on Friday in Ballary, Congress accused Modi of making "malicious and false" allegations to corrupt the atmosphere ahead of the elections.

PM Modi launched a fresh attack on Congress on Friday during his rally by saying that for the sake of vote bank politics, Congress has nurtured, given shelter, and surrendered before terrorism.

Congress general secretaries Randeep Surjewala and K C Venugopal in a memorandum to the EC said, "While we have objections to the entire tone and tenor of the prime minister's speech, in this representation we wish to highlight the completely unprecedented and malicious allegations, far worse than any ever made by a sitting prime minister in the history of India." It added, "He has not only crossed the 'Lakshman Rekha but brazenly tarnished every norm and decorum set by his predecessors. This cannot go unchecked, unanswered, and unpunished."

The Grand old party also claimed 'blatant' violations of electoral laws as well as the Indian Penal Code. It said, "These alarming and brazen violations committed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi (on May 5th, 2023), call for the immediate exercise of this commission's powers under Article 324 of the Constitution"

The Congress also wrote against BJP leaders such as Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath to the Chief Election Commissioner for "polarising the atmosphere in Karnataka".

Surejwala and Venugopal alleged that PM Modi and his party members have made every attempt to "polarise" the elections and committed multiple electoral offences under the IPC as well as other laws. They said that they've submitted "evidence" against Shah, JP Nadda, and Adityanath but no action has been taken against them yet.

Voting for the 224 assembly seats in the state will take place on May 10 and results will be out on May 13.