PM violated rule: Chandrababu Naidu to Election Commission

Vijayawada: TD supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday complained to the Election Commission about Prime Minister Narendra Modi violating the model code of conduct by talking about Satta Market in his press conference on May 17 and also by  visiting Badrinath and Kedarnath on May 18 and 19, after the campaign ended for the Lok Sabha elections.

“At the conclusion of the campaigning on May 17, a press conference was organised by BJP chief Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Talking at his first-ever press conference in the last five years, Mr Modi recalled people in Mumbai satta market had incurred huge losses as they bet big on a particular party in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections on the basis of satta market predictions.

It is alarming that the Prime Minister is talking about an illegal practice of betting and thereby supporting and promoting the  unlawful business in the country,” said Mr Naidu in his letter to Chief Election  Commissioner Sunil Arora.

Mr Naidu further said that the Prime Minister had gone to Badrinath and Kedarnath on an official visit on May 18 and 19. But all his private activities during his pilgrimage were displayed and continuously telecast by all television news channels, which itself “is a clear violation of model code of conduct and comes under indirect canvassing, influencing the voters through a person’s religious beliefs and public display of his  personal religious activities”.

“It is evident that Prime Minister Modi is trying to project a megalomaniac image of the Prime Minister, through various dubious activities like meditation in caves, walking in various costumes, making announcements regarding the master plan of Badrinath and Kedarnath.

“This is an indirect appeal to the people of specific religion, which amounts to canvassing in disguise, on a day when the polling is taking place,” Mr Naidu wrote.

He also accused the Election Commission of having double standards — one for Mr Modi and another for all other leaders.

“So far the Election Commission, which should have stopped this, has been a mute spectator, further strengthening the public belief that it has different sets of rules for the Prime Minister and the BJP, and the rules in vogue for other political parties,” he said.