EC's notice to Congress, BJP over model code violation in Karnataka

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued notices to both the Congress and the BJP after their complaints against each other over the use of abusive language during campaigning in poll-bound Karnataka. The notice to the state BJP chief is based on a complaint filed by Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, who said that the BJP published an advertisement in a leading English newspaper making various claims which, according to the party, are unsubstantiated.

The Election Commission has asked Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge to clarify a tweet attributing a remark on sovereignty to his predecessor Sonia Gandhi during an address in Karnataka. The poll body's orders came following BJP complaints that any remark on sovereignty for a state amounts to a suggestion of secession. "The Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka's reputation, sovereignty or integrity," read a tweet by the Congress quoting Mrs Gandhi, posted on May 6.The notice was sent on the basis of a complaint received today from BJP leaders Bhupender Yadav, Dr Jitendra Singh, Tarun Chugh, Anil Baluni and Om Pathak over the May 6 tweet, which read: “CPP Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi Ji sends a strong message to 6.5 crore Kannadigas: Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka’s reputation, sovereignty or integrity.” Karnataka will vote on May 10 to elect 224 members to the state assembly. The votes will be counted on May 13.