Shiv Sena (UBT) Says ECI's Double Standards Are Intriguing, Yet Understandable

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) has accused the BJP of seeking votes on the grounds of religion in the campaign for five state assembly elections, particularly in Madhya Pradesh.

In a complaint filed with the Election Commission of India, Rajya Sabha member Anil Desai has alleged that Union home minister Amit Shah's promise of free of cost darshan of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya is tantamount to using religion in elections. He also alleged that the ECI has not taken any stand against it because the commission is publicly perceived to be aligned with whatever BJP does.

Uddhav Thackeray said that after Mr. Shah’s offer to arrange a trip to Ayodhya for the people if the BJP retained power, “We feel the Model Code of Conduct has been relaxed (this time around). If that is the case, we should know about it,” he said.

In the letter addressed to the chief election commissioner, Mr. Desai alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also used religion in the Karnataka assembly election campaign when he asked people to chant ‘Bajarang Bali Ki Jay’ and press voting button on EVM. The Shiv Sena leader reminded the ECI that Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray was banned from exercising his voting right for six years for speaking about his religion during an election campaign.

“We would like to know if and when the ECI has changed its model code of conduct. The double standards applied by the ECI are intriguing, yet understandable, given the fact that the commission is publicly perceived to be in alignment with whatever the BJP does during elections and even otherwise,” the Shiv Sena MP said in his letter.

Seeking clarification from the ECI on the use of religion in election campaigns, Mr. Desai said, “We will be obliged if the commission were to clarify to the Shiv Sena about the use of religion in the course of state and Lok Sabha election in 2024. That will help all political parties to know what the commission believes are the contours of the standards required when it comes to using religion, religious symbols, idioms and language, including propagating Hindutva… that will ensure that the ECI does not apply double standards.”

Late Balasaheb Thackeray was banned from voting and contesting in any election for six years from 11 December 1999 till 10 December 2005 for “indulging in corrupt practice by seeking votes in the name of religion”. It had taken 12 years for the ECI to take the decision on the controversy caused by an election speech made by the Shiv Sena founder in a byelection of 1987. The ECI decision was based on a 1995 Supreme Court judgment that had confirmed the Bombay High Court decision that had found Balasaheb Thackeray guilty of inciting malice among communities. The SC had imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 and ordered a suspended sentence.

The ECI acted against the Shiv Sena leader after then President K.R. Narayanan had referred the Supreme Court verdict to the panel and told it to decide on the nature and degree of Balasaheb Thackeray’s punishment.

Uddhav Thackeray asked if the ECI has changed its rules which the BJP knows and other political parties are not aware of. “The ECI should clarify whether what happened in 1987 was by rule or what is happening today is by rule,” he said.