One of the two election commissioners had given a dissenting view in the decision of the ‘full Election Commission’ to give clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the two speeches made in Maharashtra last month, highly-placed sources aware of the development said Friday.

In the last three days, the Election Commission gave its decision on as many complaints by the Congress against the Prime Minister, alleging violation of the model code.

One of the election commissioners, according to the sources, gave his dissent in EC’s decision to give clean chit to the Prime Minister on his speech at Wardha on April 1 where he attacked Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for contesting from minority-dominated Wayanad seat and his appeal to first-time voters by invoking the Balakot air strikes and the soldiers killed in Pulwama in Maharashtra’s Latur on April 9.

The “full Commission” which takes such decisions comprises Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and fellow election commissioners Ashok Lavasa and Sushil Chandra.

The two decisions were then taken based on 2:1 majority as per prescribed law which governs the functioning the of the poll panel, the sources said.

The Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991 states that if the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners differ in opinion on any matter, such matter shall be decided according to the opinion of the majority.

The Commission transacts its business by holding regular meetings and also by the circulation of papers. All Election Commissioners have equal say in the decision making of the Commission.

The Congress had alleged that Modi had made some “hateful, vile and divisive” remarks against Gandhi in Wardha.

The Congress has also claimed that PM Modi and Amit Shah have used military operations as propaganda during the election campaign but the poll panel did not act against them despite various complaints.

Congress MP Sushmita Dev had filed a petition before the Supreme Court seeking urgent and necessary directions to the Election Commission to take a decision on the complaints filed against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah over alleged violations of electoral laws during campaigning.

Following this, the Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Election Commission.

On Thursday, a clean chit was given to PM Modi on his speech at Rajasthan’s Barmer, in which he had said that “India’s nuclear weapons are not meant for Diwali”.

Earlier in March, the poll body had ruled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation announcing the successful test of the anti-satellite missile (ASAT) did not violate the model code of conduct (MCC).

(With PTI inputs)