EC issues notices to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Arvind Kejriwal over remarks on PM Modi during poll campaign

In another similar notice, the Aam Aadmi Party has been charged for alleged disparaging remarks made against the PM on its social media handle.

Acting on a complaint made by the BJP that Gandhi had made "false" and "unverified" statements against PM Modi at an election rally in Madhya Pradesh recently, the poll panel asked her to explain her statement by 8 pm on Thursday.

The BJP had accused Priyanka of making a "baseless and false" claim that the Centre had privatised public sector undertakings.

In its show-cause notice, the AAP has been asked to respond to the charge of model code violation by Thursday.

On November 10, the BJP approached the Election Commission and demanded action against the AAP for posting "very unacceptable" and "unethical" video clips and remarks on a social media platform targeting PM Modi.

A BJP delegation, comprising Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, party national media in-charge and Rajya Sabha MP Anil Baluni, and party leader Om Pathak, approached the poll panel on the issue.

"From its official handle, the AAP has posted a video and two posts on X in which it has said very unacceptable, reprehensible, mischievous and unethical things about the democratically elected head of the government," Puri told reporters after raising the issue with the EC.

In its notice to the AAP, the EC stated, "The national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party is hereby called upon to explain the statements/allegations/averments, made in the alleged social media posts under reference, against a star campaigner of another national party and against the political party and by insinuation and innuendo against the candidates for the state elections and to show cause why appropriate action for violation of model code of conduct read with relevant election and penal laws should not be taken against you."

"In the event of no response from your side within the stipulated time, it will be presumed that you have nothing to say in the matter and the Election Commission will take appropriate action or decision in the matter without making any further reference to you," the election commission said.

This comes amid assembly elections, scheduled in five states including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Mizoram. Mizoram has already voted in a single-phase election on November 7.