Atishi alleges Election Commission-BJP nexus, seeks impartiality amid notice controversy

PoliCharcha | Updated: April 05, 2024, 11:16 AM

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Atishi alleges Election Commission-BJP nexus, seeks impartiality amid notice controversy

Delhi Minister and senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi criticised the Election Commission on Friday after receiving a show-cause notice, questioning the poll body's impartiality and suggesting a close connection with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Atishi also alleged that the BJP strategically leaked the Election Commission notice to the media before she officially received it via mail.

During a press briefing, Atishi highlighted the timeline of events, pointing out that the BJP filed a complaint against one of her press conferences on April 4. Subsequently, news channels reported about the notice to Atishi on April 5 at 11:15 am, half an hour before she received the notice in her mailbox. This sequence led Atishi to question the Election Commission's independence and raised concerns about its alignment with the ruling BJP.

Atishi further questioned the Election Commission's actions, referencing past incidents involving the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest and the freezing of Congress' bank accounts ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. She urged the Election Commission to uphold impartiality and resist undue influence from the BJP-led central government.

Earlier in the day, the Election Commission served a notice to Atishi regarding her claim that the BJP had approached her through a close associate for party membership. The notice required Atishi to respond by noon on April 8.

In its notice, the Election Commission reminded political parties and leaders to refrain from making unverified allegations or false statements aimed at misleading voters. The commission emphasised that criticism should be limited to policies, programs, past records, and public activities of opposing leaders or parties.

Atishi's claim that she was pressured to join the BJP or face arrest was countered by the BJP, labelling her allegations as baseless. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, contesting for re-election from North East Delhi, condemned Atishi's accusations and stated that action was taken after she failed to retract her claims.

The Election Commission's intervention in this matter underscores the ongoing tensions and accusations between political parties during the election season, highlighting the importance of maintaining decorum and factual integrity in political discourse.

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