PM Modi’s ‘address to nation’ violated poll code, over 700 citizens allege in letter to EC

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Over 700 citizens have written a letter to the Election Commission, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s national address on April 18 violated the Model Code of Conduct for elections.

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The signatories, which included former civil servants, academics, activists and journalists, said that the use of official government machinery and mass media by Modi, for what amounted to “electioneering and partisan propaganda”, constituted a serious violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

They noted that the address was broadcast live by Doordarshan, Sansad TV and All India Radio, which are funded by the public exchequer.

Modi, in his address, had criticised Opposition parties for defeating in the Lok Sabha the Union government’s bill to amend the 2023 Women’s Reservation Act and redraw the boundaries of electoral constituencies.

The prime minister alleged that the Opposition parties stood against the women’s reservation bill for their “selfish political interests”, and that they insulted the framers of the Constitution by doing so.

Modi made the statement amid Assembly elections taking place in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Elections in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry took place on April 9. Voting in Tamil Nadu will take place on April 23, while polling in West Bengal will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29.