Narendra Modi's video message: Congress asks Election Commission to take cognisance

NEW DELHI: Congress today petitioned the Election Commission demanding immediate action against Narendra Modi for his video message to voters during polling in the last phase in 41 constituencies, including Varanasi, claiming that it was a violation of the electoral laws.

AICC Secretary and incharge of the legal cell K C Mittal shot off a letter to CEC V S Sampath and other ECs, saying that Modi's address seeking votes in his favour on the day of polling is a clear violation of law.

"His (Modi's) address to voters in Varanasi seeking votes for himself is a clear violation of the provisions of the Representation of People (RP) Act and the Model Code of Conduct (MCC)," said Mittal, adding, "It is, therefore, requested that immediate necessary action may kindly be taken against him as also the BJP".

The Congress leader also said that the message by Modi was shown in entire Varanasi constituency, where he was contesting, in which the BJP prime ministerial candidate was seeking votes for himself and the party.

He said the social media has now been covered within the MCC and his addressing the voters in Varanasi and other constituencies, where canvassing has been stopped from May 10 from 6 PM onwards, was a violation.

"Modi has not only violated the Model Code of Conduct but has also committed offence Under Section 126 of RP Act," he said in his complaint to EC.