Jharkhand: Election commission cracks down on BJP’s misleading video in polls

Jharkhand News: In a significant move, the Election Commission of India (EC) has directed the Jharkhand unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to take down a video posted on its social media platforms. This action follows complaints lodged by Congress and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), accusing the video of being "misleading and malicious."

Allegations of Malicious Intent

The video in question was alleged to contain "baseless allegations and falsehoods," designed to influence voters negatively by creating animosity against the JMM and its leadership. Both Congress and JMM filed complaints with the Election Commission, urging it to intervene in the matter. The parties claimed that the video violated the provisions of the model code of conduct and sought prompt action from the EC.

“The video is rife with baseless allegations and falsehoods to unduly influence voters by creating a feeling of hatred and enmity against the JMM and its leaders,” the complaint stated. The Election Commission’s swift action underscores its commitment to maintaining a fair electoral environment and preventing the spread of misinformation during the ongoing election process.

EC Takes Immediate Action

In response to the complaints, the Election Commission instructed Jharkhand's chief electoral officer to take immediate steps to remove the objectionable content from social media platforms. The EC has further coordinated with the relevant authorities under the IT Act to ensure the video is swiftly taken down. This move comes in the wake of heightened scrutiny over social media’s role in influencing voters during elections.

Ongoing Jharkhand Assembly Elections

The complaint and subsequent actions from the Election Commission come amidst the ongoing Jharkhand Assembly elections. The first phase of voting took place on November 13, with the second phase scheduled for November 20. The counting of votes will take place on November 23, marking the conclusion of the election process.

In a significant move, the Election Commission of India (EC) has directed the Jharkhand unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to take down a video posted on its social media platforms. This action follows complaints lodged by Congress and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), accusing the video of being "misleading and malicious."

Allegations of Malicious Intent

The video in question was alleged to contain "baseless allegations and falsehoods," designed to influence voters negatively by creating animosity against the JMM and its leadership. Both Congress and JMM filed complaints with the Election Commission, urging it to intervene in the matter. The parties claimed that the video violated the provisions of the model code of conduct and sought prompt action from the EC.

“The video is rife with baseless allegations and falsehoods to unduly influence voters by creating a feeling of hatred and enmity against the JMM and its leaders,” the complaint stated. The Election Commission’s swift action underscores its commitment to maintaining a fair electoral environment and preventing the spread of misinformation during the ongoing election process.

EC Takes Immediate Action

In response to the complaints, the Election Commission instructed Jharkhand's chief electoral officer to take immediate steps to remove the objectionable content from social media platforms. The EC has further coordinated with the relevant authorities under the IT Act to ensure the video is swiftly taken down. This move comes in the wake of heightened scrutiny over social media’s role in influencing voters during elections.

Ongoing Jharkhand Assembly Elections

The complaint and subsequent actions from the Election Commission come amidst the ongoing Jharkhand Assembly elections. The first phase of voting took place on November 13, with the second phase scheduled for November 20. The counting of votes will take place on November 23, marking the conclusion of the election process.

EC Notices to Party Presidents

In another development, the Election Commission issued notices to BJP president JP Nadda and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge regarding complaints filed by each party during the election campaigns in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. These notices are part of the EC’s ongoing efforts to uphold the model code of conduct and ensure that all campaign activities adhere to the standards set by the Commission. The EC has asked both Nadda and Kharge to respond by November 18, reminding them of previous advisories to control their party leaders and maintain public decorum during the campaigning period.