Prime Minister Narendra Modi meditated at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari on Friday. News18
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a meditation break after a busy Lok Sabha election campaign. He arrived in Kanyakumari on Thursday to begin a 45-hour meditation at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, but his stay has worried the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) rivals, the Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Congress.
On Wednesday, the Indian National Congress filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI), demanding that the prime minister’s visit be rescheduled keeping in mind the rules of the Model Code of Conduct for elections or its broadcast be banned.
A delegation of Congress leaders led by national spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi met ECI officials and registered a complaint: “We have conveyed to the ECI that no election campaigning will be allowed, either directly or indirectly, during the silence period…” The Trinamool Congress had also raised the issue.
We look at what the quiet period is and why EC action against the Prime Minister is unlikely.
What is a quiet period?
The silence period lasts 48 hours, ending at a designated time before the close of polls, during which political parties and candidates are prohibited from campaigning.
All election campaigning will be suspended during this period once the polls close under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Restrictions will be imposed on politicians and the media to prevent them from influencing voters in any way.
According to one report: Indian ExpressDistrict governors have issued directives banning illegal assemblies, public meetings and the use of loudspeakers, and limiting public gatherings to less than five people, although door-to-door campaigning is permitted.
Political advertising through electronic or social media is not permitted.
Has PM Modi violated the rules? Will the EC take action?
Modi is running from Varanasi in India’s Lok Sabha elections, which go to polls on June 1. The prime minister is expected to “observe silence” while meditating at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and will not campaign during the 48-hour silence period before the election, which will ensure that Article 126 and the Model Code of Conduct are not technically violated.
According to one report: Economic Times (ET)The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) had informed the Election Commission about PM Modi’s plan on May 29.
Another reason that could work in the prime minister’s favour is that the elections are divided into multiple stages. The scope of the quiet period was clarified in an Election Commission memo on “Media reporting during the period specified in Section 126 of the Election Act, 1951” on April 2. The memo reportedly said that this “shall not be applicable in case of multi-stage elections”. E.T..
What are the opposition saying?
Indian National Congress spokesperson Singhvi, who met Election Commission officials, told media on Wednesday, “We have conveyed to the Election Commission that no direct or indirect campaigning will be allowed during the silence period. There is no problem with someone or a leader doing something – observing the vow of silence. But there should be no indirect campaigning during the silence period.”
“These are ways of broadcasting election campaigns and one’s activities through channels and print media. We have pointed out two very simple points to the ECI: The Prime Minister should start this in 24-48 hours. He can do it after June 1 evening. And if he claims to start it… he should be banned from broadcasting it in print and visual media. He himself is a final-stage candidate. Such broadcasts should not be allowed,” he added.
The Prime Minister’s visit will begin on May 30 and continue until June 1.
What did the EC say when the Prime Minister visited Kedarnath in 2019?
During the 2019 elections, the Prime Minister had visited Kedarnath on a similar meditation trip ahead of the final phase when Varanasi was scheduled to vote. At the time, several opposition parties had filed complaints with the Election Commission, which, however, approved the Prime Minister’s visit and had “reminded” the Prime Minister’s Office that the Model Code of Conduct was still in force.
After spending the night in the Kedarnath caves, the President thanked the Election Commission for the visit, adding that he was taking two days of “rest”.
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