– Abdul Bari Masoud
New Delhi: As election campaigns intensify in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and ongoing by-elections, the Congress party has lodged up to eight complaints with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against the BJP. The complaints accuse BJP of spreading misinformation against the Muslim community and misusing state machinery to influence the election outcome.
Senior Congress leader Sasikanth Senthil, speaking to the media after a meeting with ECI officials at Nirvachan Sadan, stated that all eight complaints raised by the Congress were acknowledged as valid by ECI. He noted that some of these complaints were of a serious nature, prompting the Commission to order the transfer of certain officers implicated in the misuse of power, with official copies of these orders being provided to the Congress.
Senthil accused BJP of targeting the Muslim community through divisive advertisements in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, asserting that such actions aim to polarise society and significantly influence the electoral process. He stated, “The Commission is fully aware of this ongoing pattern by the BJP. It goes beyond electoral politics and appears to be a concerted effort to divide communities.”
The Congress delegation also raised concerns about alleged political involvement by the Governor of Jharkhand in election activities, particularly in Jamshedpur. Senthil warned that if such actions continue, ECI must take strict measures against BJP’s campaign tactics, including monitoring its social media activity to prevent communal polarisation.
In response to a question about the BJP’s counter-complaints against Congress, Senthil remarked, “I won’t even read their ad publicly; it is so inappropriate. This isn’t just a clash between two political parties; it’s an attack on the people of this country. Such inflammatory content creates communal divisions and constitutes a criminal offence under the IPC. That’s why the Election Commission has already directed an FIR to be filed.”
