Pune, March 19: Pune-based activists, lawyer Asim Sarode and environmentalist Vishwambhar Choudhary, have taken a bold step ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections by sending a legal notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI). The notice urges the ECI to ensure the removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s images from all public, government, and semi-government places, citing violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
The activists argue that displaying images of PM Modi, particularly alongside those of Maharashtra’s deputy chief ministers, would breach the MCC, as the Prime Minister serves as a star campaigner for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). They assert that such displays misuse public resources for partisan advertisement, contravening the principles of fair campaigning.
“We suggest that the Election Commission gives direction to the offices to cover the pictures of the prime minister in the most appropriate manner,” stated the legal notice, emphasizing the need for impartiality and adherence to electoral regulations.
The activists, operating under the banner of the Nirbhay Bano Manch, have been actively campaigning against what they perceive as misrule by the BJP in Maharashtra. Their efforts include conducting public lectures across the state to raise awareness and garner support for their cause.
With the 18th Lok Sabha elections scheduled to take place from April 19 to June 1, and Maharashtra set to vote in five phases, the demand for the removal of PM Modi’s images underscores the need for strong vigilance by civil society in upholding electoral integrity. As the electoral battle heats up, the spotlight remains on the Election Commission’s response to such calls for accountability and transparency in the electoral arena.
