Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu, on Sunday, wrote to the Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora alleging the violation of the Model Code of Conduct by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The letter states, “PM has gone to Badrinath and Kedarnath on an official visit, all the private activities done by him during his pilgrimage are being displayed and continuously telecast, which is a clear violation of the MCC.
“If continuous telecast of these activities of Prime Minister is not stopped, it could affect the level playing field envisaged by the model code of conduct, which the ECI is duty bound to implement,” he said in the letter.
“This is indirect canvassing and influencing voters through a person’s religious beliefs and public display of his personal religious activities.
“Modi’s activities like meditating in caves, walking in various costumes, making announcements on Badrinath and Kedarnath master plan, and thus making direct references and indirect appeal to the people of specific religion, amounts to canvassing in disguise,” he added.
“The Election Commission of India, which should have stopped this, has been a mute spectator (thus) further strengthening the public belief that it has different sets of rules for the PM and BJP, and the rules in vogue for other political parties.
“Modi can do all these activities in private but continuous telecast should be stopped.
“I earnestly request the Election Commission of India (ECI) to immediately stop such delusive, unfair and immoral campaign and direct all concerned to refrain from any activity that influences the voters directly or indirectly,” Naidu said.
The TDP chief is in New Delhi, holding meetings with the leaders of various opposition parties for a possible alliance after Lok Sabha election results are declared on May 23.
(With PTI inputs)