NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Friday issued a notice to AAP minister Atishi Marlena over her unsubstantiated claim that she was recently approached by the BJP through an intermediary, to join the party to “save her political career”.
Citing the provision in model code of conduct that restrains politicians and parties from criticising rival parties or their workers based on unverified allegations and distortions, the Commission directed Atishi to explain her allegations against the BJP latest by Monday noon.
The action against Atishi followed a complaint received by EC from the BJP on Thursday.
Stating that Atishi, being a minister in Delhi government and leader of a national party, voters tend to believe whatever she or any other leader says on a public forum. “In that sense the statements made by them affect the campaign discourse,” noted the poll panel.
“Whereas, it is expected that there must be a factual foundation to the above quoted statements made by you and when the veracity of the statements made by you is contested then you must be able to back your statements by a factual basis,” EC said and added that the matter was being examined in light of the model code and relevant electoral laws.
Atishi had, at a press conference on April 2, claimed that BJP had approached her through a close friend of hers, proposing that she join the party to “save my political career or further my political career”. However, she did not produce any evidence to back her allegation.
As per Clause (2) of Part I of model code, criticism of other political parties shall be confined to their policies and
programme, past record and work. “Criticism of other parties or their workers based on unverified allegations or distortion shall be avoided,” it adds.
The Commission in its notice to Atishi also cited the advisory issued by it to all political parties on March 1, 2024, regarding plummeting levels of political discourse. It had advised political parties and leaders not to make false statements or utterances without factual basis aimed at misleading the voters.
Citing the provision in model code of conduct that restrains politicians and parties from criticising rival parties or their workers based on unverified allegations and distortions, the Commission directed Atishi to explain her allegations against the BJP latest by Monday noon.
The action against Atishi followed a complaint received by EC from the BJP on Thursday.
Stating that Atishi, being a minister in Delhi government and leader of a national party, voters tend to believe whatever she or any other leader says on a public forum. “In that sense the statements made by them affect the campaign discourse,” noted the poll panel.
“Whereas, it is expected that there must be a factual foundation to the above quoted statements made by you and when the veracity of the statements made by you is contested then you must be able to back your statements by a factual basis,” EC said and added that the matter was being examined in light of the model code and relevant electoral laws.
Atishi had, at a press conference on April 2, claimed that BJP had approached her through a close friend of hers, proposing that she join the party to “save my political career or further my political career”. However, she did not produce any evidence to back her allegation.
As per Clause (2) of Part I of model code, criticism of other political parties shall be confined to their policies and
programme, past record and work. “Criticism of other parties or their workers based on unverified allegations or distortion shall be avoided,” it adds.
The Commission in its notice to Atishi also cited the advisory issued by it to all political parties on March 1, 2024, regarding plummeting levels of political discourse. It had advised political parties and leaders not to make false statements or utterances without factual basis aimed at misleading the voters.