Congress calls PM Modi’s “roadshow” a “wake-up call”; Mamata’s “VVIP” taunt
Waving to the crowd, Prime Minister Narendra Modi walked to the polling station to vote in the second phase of the Gujarat assembly election
Opposition parties claim Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s long walk to the polling booth in Ahmedabad violated the Model Code of Conduct. In a video statement, Congress national spokesperson Pawan Khera stated that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has remained silent despite frequent violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the assembly elections.
“The way the Election Commission was silenced is a wake-up call for democracy,” Khera said, adding that the Congress party is considering legal options to include PM Modi’s “roadshow” in the definition of advertisement.
“The Prime Minister’s vote in Ahmedabad, which lasted over 2.5 hours, was broadcast live on all news channels for free. Should not you be bringing charges against the BJP? Why are you doing it for nothing? We will take whatever legal means necessary to persuade the ECI that such publicity falls under the purview of the Election expenditures of the party that is forced to run the roadshow live even while the election is taking place “Khera elaborated.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders, saying they are “VVIPs” who “can do anything” with impunity, according to ANI.
“Roadshows are not permitted on election day, but Prime Minister Modi and his party are VVIPs; they can do anything and will be excused,” Trinamool Congress supremo said, according to ANI.
BJP spokesperson Tom Vadakkan maintained that it was not a roadshow, saying, “The PM’s cavalcade was parked a little further from the polling booth and the PM walked up to the polling booth to cast his vote, and this is the exact provocation that Pawan Khera is talking about.” It is not a roadshow or anything else. What would you do if you were a citizen? You are not going to drive your car into the polling station, are you?”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi voted in the second phase of the Gujarat Assembly elections on Monday at a polling station in Ahmedabad. At around 9.30 a.m., he arrived at a polling station at Nishan High School in Ahmedabad’s Ranip neighborhood to exercise his franchise. The prime minister emerged from the polling booth and waved to the crowd that had gathered to greet him. He then went to his elder brother Soma Modi’s house, which was close to the polling station.
Those who voted included Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Aam Aadmi Party chief ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi, and Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Sukhram Rathva.
Vote counting will take place on December 8.
