Press Trust of India
New Delhi
Taking serious note of the “plummeting level of campaign discourse” during electioneering in Karnataka, the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday asked political parties and their star campaigners to exercise caution and restraint in their utterances and not to vitiate the election atmosphere.
The EC advisory came amid the use of barbs such as ‘poisonous snake’, ‘vishkanya’ and ‘nalayak’ by leaders of Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party against each other in the run-up to the Karnataka assembly elections on May 10.
The poll panel also referred to the instances of “inappropriate vocabulary and language” used during the ongoing campaign by persons, “in particular, by those invested with the statutory status of star campaigner”.
“Such instances have occasioned various complaints, cross complaints and have also attracted negative media attention,” the EC said in a statement.
Campaigning for the May 10 polls is hotting up with the Congress and the BJP being engaged in a war of words. Both, Congress and BJP have moved the poll panel seeking action against each other.
The Commission pointed out that recognised national parties and star campaigners enjoy “extra enablements” within the Representation of the People Act.
“It is imperative for all parties and stakeholders to remain within the confines of the model code of conduct and the legal framework in their utterances while campaigning so as to maintain the dignity of the political discourse and not to vitiate the campaign and the election atmosphere,” the advisory read.
It said the parties are expected to contribute in maintaining and raising the level of discourse to “issue-based debate, provide pan-India perspective, depth to the local discourse and to reassure all sections of electors to participate fully and fearlessly in a free and fair election.” The Commission noted that as per the provisions of the model code, the use of provocative and inflammatory statements, the use of intemperate and abusive language transgressing the limits of decency and attacks on the personal character and conduct of political rivals vitiate level-playing field.
“The spirit of the MCC is not just avoidance of a direct violation, it also prohibits attempts to vitiate the electoral space through suggestive or indirect statements or innuendoes,” the statement said.
It has also asked its state chief electoral officers to ensure the widest publicity of the advisory and compliance there, failing which appropriate action must be initiated as per the existing regulatory and legal framework.
“The Commission, in collaboration and consultation with all stakeholders, in particular, the political parties and the candidates, has invested efforts in encouraging all stakeholders to maintain a level of political discourse during campaigning which is befitting the widespread admiration and standing of Indian democracy worldwide,” it said.
Earlier in the day, a BJP delegation met the Election Commission members and raised the issue of the Congress promising tough action against Bajrang Dal and its leader Prinyak Kharge calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi “nalayak” as it accused the opposition party of resorting to politics of appeasement and division in Karnataka.