New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has sent a notice to Delhi Minister Atishi over an alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct, following her recent claims of being threatened by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to switch sides.
The notice comes in response to a complaint lodged by the BJP regarding Atishi’s remarks, wherein she alleged coercion by the opposition party. The ECI has directed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader to submit her response to the matter by 5 pm on Saturday.
In its communication to Atishi, the poll body emphasized her role as a minister and the significant influence her statements could have on public perception, particularly during the election period. The EC stressed the importance of ensuring that statements made by political leaders, especially ministers, are substantiated with factual evidence.
“You are hereby called upon to furnish your para-wise response to the matter latest by 17.00 hrs of 6th April, 2024,” stated the Election Commission.
Reacting to the notice, Atishi expressed her dismay over the timing of its issuance, suggesting a deliberate attempt to discredit her. She took to Twitter to express her concerns, questioning the integrity of the Election Commission’s actions.
“Noticed half an hour after TV channels flashed the news. That means the Election Commission first plants a notice in the media and then I get the notice. My question is whether the Election Commission has become a subsidiary organization of BJP,” Atishi tweeted.
Addressing the Election Commissioners directly, Atishi warned against compromising the integrity of the electoral process. “If you do not conduct free and fair elections today, history will remember the Election Commission wrongly,” she asserted.
Atishi, a prominent leader within the AAP entrusted with overseeing party affairs in the absence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, had earlier alleged that the BJP had attempted to lure her to defect from the AAP. Her claims have ignited a political storm in the capital ahead of the upcoming elections.
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