Karnataka Election 2023: EC serves notice to BJP over unsubstantiated claims against Congress in ad

Karnataka Election 2023: The Election Commission on Monday asked the Karnataka BJP to provide "verifiable and traceable" facts by Tuesday evening regarding its newspaper advertisement describing the Congress as "the most corrupt party in the world".

Earlier, on a complaint by the BJP, the poll panel had issued a similar notice to the Congress over its "corruption rate card" advertisement.

The Election Commission (EC) served a notice to the Karnataka BJP over its advertisement after the Congress approached the poll panel.

In its notice, the commission said criticism of the policy and governance of opponent parties is a right guaranteed and enshrined in the Constitution as well as an essential function of various political actors under India's electoral process.

"However, while exercising this right and performing this essential function, the various political parties are expected to uphold high standards of public discourse and adhere to the various provisions of the model code and relevant laws," it said.

The commission has directed the state BJP to "convey the verifiable and traceable facts" regarding the claims made in the advertisement given by them along with an explanation, if any, by 8 pm on May 9 and also put that in "public domain".

The EC said if no proof is provided, the BJP should come up with reasons on as to why action should not be initiated against it for violating the MCC (model code of conduct) and relevant legal provisions under the Representation of the People Act and the Indian Penal Code.

The high-octane campaigning for the May 10 Karnataka assembly poll ended this evening.

BJP seeks Congress' derecognition

As the row over Karnataka's "sovereignty" remark escalated with the BJP on Monday moving the Election Commission seeking an FIR against Sonia Gandhi and her party's derecognition, the poll panel asked the Congress to clarify and rectify the party's social media post attributed to Gandhi.

The EC sent a letter to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge after the BJP complaint regarding a tweet that appeared on the official Twitter handle of the Indian National Congress on May 6.

In its complaint, the BJP has alleged, "Karnataka is a very important member state in the Union of India and any call to protect the sovereignty of a member state of the Union of India amounts to a call for secession and is fraught with perilous & pernicious consequences."

The BJP also alleged in its complaint to the EC that the tweet is violative of the mandatory oath undertaken by the political parties under section 29A (5) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 at the time of registration.

"In view of the above, you are requested to clarify and take rectification measures in respect of the social media post which has been put up on the INC Twitter handle and attributed to Chairperson, CPP," the EC letter read.

A former Congress chief, Sonia Gandhi is currently the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson.

After Gandhi addressed a campaign rally in Hubballi in Karnataka on Saturday, the Congress tweeted from its official handle: "CPP Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji sends a strong message to 6.5 crore Kannadigas: 'The Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka's reputation, sovereignty or integrity'."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised the issue in his public meetings on Sunday to launch a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing the party of openly advocating for "separating" Karnataka from India.

Modi alleged that the disease of the "tukde-tukde gang" (anti-national elements) has reached the Congress' top level.

Several BJP leaders attacked the Congress over the "sovereignty" remark. Union minister Anurag Thakur said, "By referring to 'Karnataka's sovereignty', Sonia Gandhi Ji, you have revealed the Congress' deep conspiracy to disintegrate India."

However, Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala hit back and claimed that the "desperation of the prime minister and the BJP is glaring as they seek to clutch at straws for want of a narrative in Karnataka".

On the last day of the campaign for the May 10 assembly elections in Karnataka, Surjewala said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should speak out on corruption charges against his party's government and added that excuses cannot be the refuge of the BJP in this election.

"We reject the fakery and falsehood being perpetuated by PM as he refuses to answer a single question on why BJP is denigrating the 'swabhimaan' of Karnataka," the Congress leader said when asked about the BJP's charge on "sovereignty" remark.

"If raising the issues of Kannada pride being compromised is a crime, we consider it our 'dharma' to do so again and again," the Congress leader told PTI.