Election fever is high in India, and amidst this, actor Allu Arjun has found himself in a controversy. A case has been filed against the Pushpa actor&nbsp;and Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) MLA Ravi Chandra Kishore Reddy for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct in Andhra Pradesh's Nandyala.

As per India Today, there was a large public gathering at the residence of MLA Ravi Chandra Kishore Reddy when Allu Arjun came for supporting Reddy in&nbsp;the Andhra Pradesh elections.&nbsp;

It has been said that MLA Reddy invited the actor, who enjoys a huge fan following, without taking any permission for the gathering. The case has been registered for disobeying the poll code.

The FIR has been filed for violating Section 144, which has been imposed in the state where the&nbsp;poll will take place on May 13. For the unversed,&nbsp;48 hours&nbsp;before the election, all&nbsp;election&nbsp; campaigning is stopped, and no political parties or&nbsp;candidates are allowed to campaign. This is called a silence period, which ends after the&nbsp;voting day.&nbsp;

After visiting Reddy, Arjun clarified that he visited Nandyala for his friend and is not supporting any political party.&nbsp;

"I came here on my own. Among my friends, in whichever field they are in, I will step up and help them if they need my help. It doesn't mean I am backing or supporting any political party," Arjun said to a reporter.

On May 11, Actor shared a photo of him waving at the huge crowd of fans from the balcony as he wished his friend for election.&nbsp;

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Grateful to the people of Nandyal for the warm reception. Thank you, <a href="https://twitter.com/SilpaRaviReddy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SilpaRaviReddy</a> garu, for the hospitality. Wishing you the very best in the elections and beyond. You have my unwavering love and support <a href="https://t.co/n34ra9qpMO">pic.twitter.com/n34ra9qpMO</a>
— Allu Arjun (@alluarjun) <a href="https://twitter.com/alluarjun/status/1789236854296023317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Sharing the picture on X, he wrote, ''Grateful to the people of Nandyal for the warm reception. Thank you,&nbsp;@SilpaRaviReddy garu, for the hospitality. Wishing you the very best in the elections and beyond. You have my unwavering love and support.''

Allu Arjun's upcoming movie

On the work front, Arjun will next be seen in Pushpa: The Rule. Directed by Sukumar, Pushpa is slated to release in theatres on August 15, 2024. The movie also stars Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Fasil in the lead roles.

Election fever is high in India, and amidst this, actor Allu Arjun has found himself in a controversy. A case has been filed against the Pushpa actor and Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) MLA Ravi Chandra Kishore Reddy for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct in Andhra Pradesh's Nandyala.

Election fever is high in India, and amidst this, actor Allu Arjun has found himself in a controversy. A case has been filed against the Pushpa actor and Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) MLA Ravi Chandra Kishore Reddy for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct in Andhra Pradesh's Nandyala. As per India Today, there was a large public gathering at the residence of MLA Ravi Chandra Kishore Reddy when Allu Arjun came for supporting Reddy in the Andhra Pradesh elections. It has been said that MLA Reddy invited the actor, who enjoys a huge fan following, without taking any permission for the gathering. The case has been registered for disobeying the poll code. The FIR has been filed for violating Section 144, which has been imposed in the state where the poll will take place on May 13. For the unversed, 48 hours before the election, all election campaigning is stopped, and no political parties or candidates are allowed to campaign. This is called a silence period, which ends after the voting day. After visiting Reddy, Arjun clarified that he visited Nandyala for his friend and is not supporting any political party. "I came here on my own. Among my friends, in whichever field they are in, I will step up and help them if they need my help. It doesn't mean I am backing or supporting any political party," Arjun said to a reporter. On May 11, Actor shared a photo of him waving at the huge crowd of fans from the balcony as he wished his friend for election. Grateful to the people of Nandyal for the warm reception. Thank you, @SilpaRaviReddy garu, for the hospitality. Wishing you the very best in the elections and beyond. You have my unwavering love and support pic.twitter.com/n34ra9qpMO — Allu Arjun (@alluarjun) May 11, 2024 × Sharing the picture on X, he wrote, ''Grateful to the people of Nandyal for the warm reception. Thank you, @SilpaRaviReddy garu, for the hospitality. Wishing you the very best in the elections and beyond. You have my unwavering love and support.'' Allu Arjun's upcoming movie On the work front, Arjun will next be seen in Pushpa: The Rule. Directed by Sukumar, Pushpa is slated to release in theatres on August 15, 2024. The movie also stars Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Fasil in the lead roles.

Case registered against actor Allu Arjun, YSRCP MLA for poll code violation. What did they do?

The Election Commission of India on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's poll speech in Wardha in which he criticised Congress chief <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/elections/politicians/rahul-gandhi%3Fpage%3D33&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjXrs2FnPjhAhUH6Y8KHX3UAQM4RhAWMAB6BAgFEAE&amp;usg=AOvVaw3561lXS55TGaN59qEvw4-n">Rahul Gandhi</a> for playing appeasement politics over his <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/lok-sabha-polls-2019-rahul-gandhis-wayanad-choice-could-hurt-congress-in-the-north-207697">candidature from Wayanad </a>does not violate the Model Code of Conduct.

"In a matter related to a complaint concerning an alleged violation of Model Code of Conduct in a speech by PM Narendra Modi in Wardha, Maharashtra on 01.04.2019, Commission is of the considered view that in this matter no such violation has been noticed," the poll panel said.&nbsp;

The EC said it had examined the matter in detail in accordance with the extant guidelines of the MCC and the report of the Chief Electoral Officer, Maharashtra."Accordingly, Commission is of the considered view that in this matter no such violation has been noticed," the apex poll body's order said.&nbsp;

The Congress on April 5 moved the EC against Modi's speech alleging that the comments were "hateful and divisive."

In the rally in Wardha, Modi had taken a veiled jibe at Congress president Rahul Gandhi for contesting from Wayanad in Kerala, in addition to Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, saying the party was "forced to run away from a majority seat to a minority constituency," while accusing it of "defaming" the Hindu community by coining the term Hindu terror.

"Congress has done the sin of defaming our more than 5,000 years old culture. The peaceful Hindu society which considers the whole world as its family was called a terrorist. That is why they have been forced to run away from a majority seat and go to a minority seat", he had said in his speech.&nbsp;

Modi added, "When Sushil Kumar Shinde was a minister, he had spoken about Hindu terrorism from the land of Maharashtra. However, a few days ago, the court`s decision came which exposed the Congress conspiracy in front of the country. Congress has insulted Hindus."

(With inputs from ANI)

The Election Commission of India on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's poll speech in Wardha in which he criticised Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for playing appeasement politics over his candidature from Wayanad does not violate the Model Code of Conduct.

The Election Commission of India on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's poll speech in Wardha in which he criticised Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for playing appeasement politics over his candidature from Wayanad does not violate the Model Code of Conduct. "In a matter related to a complaint concerning an alleged violation of Model Code of Conduct in a speech by PM Narendra Modi in Wardha, Maharashtra on 01.04.2019, Commission is of the considered view that in this matter no such violation has been noticed," the poll panel said. The EC said it had examined the matter in detail in accordance with the extant guidelines of the MCC and the report of the Chief Electoral Officer, Maharashtra."Accordingly, Commission is of the considered view that in this matter no such violation has been noticed," the apex poll body's order said. The Congress on April 5 moved the EC against Modi's speech alleging that the comments were "hateful and divisive." In the rally in Wardha, Modi had taken a veiled jibe at Congress president Rahul Gandhi for contesting from Wayanad in Kerala, in addition to Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, saying the party was "forced to run away from a majority seat to a minority constituency," while accusing it of "defaming" the Hindu community by coining the term Hindu terror. "Congress has done the sin of defaming our more than 5,000 years old culture. The peaceful Hindu society which considers the whole world as its family was called a terrorist. That is why they have been forced to run away from a majority seat and go to a minority seat", he had said in his speech. Modi added, "When Sushil Kumar Shinde was a minister, he had spoken about Hindu terrorism from the land of Maharashtra. However, a few days ago, the court`s decision came which exposed the Congress conspiracy in front of the country. Congress has insulted Hindus." (With inputs from ANI)

PM Modi gets clean chit: No poll code violation in Wardha speech, says Election Commission

As we approach the halfway mark of the seven-phase 2019 elections, it is clear that this is the ugliest campaign in India’s 70-year-old electoral history. As a witness to three general elections and an activist observer or researcher in 12 others, one has never witnessed so much bad blood as this seventeenth general election.&nbsp;

This, of course, has not happened overnight. It has reached this stage because critical issues confronting the electoral system have not been addressed over the years. To ensure fair and free polls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) was given statutory status. In 1962, the idea of a ‘model code’, experimented for the first time in Kerala in 1960, was adopted. In 1979, certain restraints were introduced for the party in power. In 1991, Election Commissioner T N Seshan demonstrated what a proactive and independent ECI could do to ensure independence. There were more than a couple of parliamentary committees set up to propose electoral reforms. But with political parties becoming all-powerful, despite losing much of their sheen, electoral practices have continued to decline.&nbsp;

Take Indonesia. With a history of two decades of elections and 187 million voters, the country had a one-day national poll recently. Whereas in India, a voter has to wait for 43 days to know the winner, despite the EVMs. &nbsp;Never before has the ECI been seen to be as partisan as today and no efforts have been made to ensure that the electoral process regains credibility.&nbsp;

Instruments like the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) have outlived their utility. The irrelevance of ECI’s instruments is evident from a cursory reading of the code. Neither of the eight provisions dealing with the conduct of poll is being observed either by the candidates or the political parties in the fray. &nbsp;The first of the eight is on “general conduct” of polls. This includes a ban on “caste and communal feelings”, “criticism of candidates on the basis of unverified reports”, and “bribing of voters”. &nbsp;“No political party can use pictures of defence and military personnel”, in a poll campaign, is another MCC guideline, which has been thrown out of the window. &nbsp;

In 1979, MCC prohibited government advertisement of their ‘achievements’ and banned announcement of grants and schemes, so that the ruling party does not get an unfair advantage. The government or the ruling party “should not launch any welfare programmes, including ribbon cutting ceremonies”, said the code.&nbsp;

However, what is happening is exactly the opposite and the Supreme Court had to remind the ECI that it is not toothless. An analysis of nominations filed for assemblies and Parliament in the last few elections, according to the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), reveals that the percentage of rich, privileged and those with a criminal background, total to nearly one-third of the elected members. CMS studies on poll expenditure over the last three general elections, bring out three critical points. First, a significant per cent of voters is being paid money across the states, both in rural and urban India. Second, the expenditure being incurred by parties and candidates has been going up in such a way that only millionaires can now contest. &nbsp;Third, the campaigns are focused on lure rather than on issues and concerns. Neither is there evidence that political parties have become accountable or are taking their manifestos seriously.

Despite ECI’s hundreds of “expenditure observers,” the extent of unaccounted money confiscated is on rise with no effect on the overall poll expenditure. Only one Assembly member was ever disqualified in UP, a couple of years ago, for not submitting accounts, as required. &nbsp; 
 
There have been several parliamentary panels on poll funding in the last four decades, but their recommendations have remained only on paper. If anything, recent government measures are aimed at facilitating funding, including from foreign corporates, with no transparency. It is tempting to ask why we have not pursued a different kind of electoral campaign or evaluated the actual requirements of a contesting candidate. There is no reason why a candidate should not reach out to voters, present his or her credentials, address voters’ concerns and propose what he or she will do if elected.&nbsp;

Candidates mainly stress on the negative aspects of their rivals. Increasingly, many of them spend more time on their opponents, than on what they propose to do.&nbsp;Big changes are needed. Candidates can campaign together so that voters can make a better choice more transparently. There must be minimum joint public meetings in every constituency.

It will help bring down poll expenditure substantially. When competing candidates address voters together, they are likely to be more positive and cordial. After all, if two bitter rivals can come together in a poll alliance, why can’t opposing candidates campaign together? Unless political leaders and parties come forward to restore the sanctity of electoral practices, nothing is going to change. And unless that happens, it is difficult to expect good governance, deepen democracy and inclusive development.

It is time to relook the relevance of ECI’s code of conduct. This is not possible without the support, cooperation and participation of the news media. The judiciary needs to be consulted in repositioning the ECI. India needs an electoral shake-up as the republic enters the 75th year. &nbsp; 
&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-poll-code-nothing-really-model-about-it-2743200">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

As we approach the halfway mark of the seven-phase 2019 elections, it is clear that this is the ugliest campaign in India’s 70-year-old electoral history. As a witness to three general elections and an activist observer or researcher in 12 others, one has never witnessed so much bad blood as this seventeenth general election.

As we approach the halfway mark of the seven-phase 2019 elections, it is clear that this is the ugliest campaign in India’s 70-year-old electoral history. As a witness to three general elections and an activist observer or researcher in 12 others, one has never witnessed so much bad blood as this seventeenth general election. This, of course, has not happened overnight. It has reached this stage because critical issues confronting the electoral system have not been addressed over the years. To ensure fair and free polls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) was given statutory status. In 1962, the idea of a ‘model code’, experimented for the first time in Kerala in 1960, was adopted. In 1979, certain restraints were introduced for the party in power. In 1991, Election Commissioner T N Seshan demonstrated what a proactive and independent ECI could do to ensure independence. There were more than a couple of parliamentary committees set up to propose electoral reforms. But with political parties becoming all-powerful, despite losing much of their sheen, electoral practices have continued to decline. Take Indonesia. With a history of two decades of elections and 187 million voters, the country had a one-day national poll recently. Whereas in India, a voter has to wait for 43 days to know the winner, despite the EVMs. Never before has the ECI been seen to be as partisan as today and no efforts have been made to ensure that the electoral process regains credibility. Instruments like the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) have outlived their utility. The irrelevance of ECI’s instruments is evident from a cursory reading of the code. Neither of the eight provisions dealing with the conduct of poll is being observed either by the candidates or the political parties in the fray. The first of the eight is on “general conduct” of polls. This includes a ban on “caste and communal feelings”, “criticism of candidates on the basis of unverified reports”, and “bribing of voters”. “No political party can use pictures of defence and military personnel”, in a poll campaign, is another MCC guideline, which has been thrown out of the window. In 1979, MCC prohibited government advertisement of their ‘achievements’ and banned announcement of grants and schemes, so that the ruling party does not get an unfair advantage. The government or the ruling party “should not launch any welfare programmes, including ribbon cutting ceremonies”, said the code. However, what is happening is exactly the opposite and the Supreme Court had to remind the ECI that it is not toothless. An analysis of nominations filed for assemblies and Parliament in the last few elections, according to the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), reveals that the percentage of rich, privileged and those with a criminal background, total to nearly one-third of the elected members. CMS studies on poll expenditure over the last three general elections, bring out three critical points. First, a significant per cent of voters is being paid money across the states, both in rural and urban India. Second, the expenditure being incurred by parties and candidates has been going up in such a way that only millionaires can now contest. Third, the campaigns are focused on lure rather than on issues and concerns. Neither is there evidence that political parties have become accountable or are taking their manifestos seriously. Despite ECI’s hundreds of “expenditure observers,” the extent of unaccounted money confiscated is on rise with no effect on the overall poll expenditure. Only one Assembly member was ever disqualified in UP, a couple of years ago, for not submitting accounts, as required. There have been several parliamentary panels on poll funding in the last four decades, but their recommendations have remained only on paper. If anything, recent government measures are aimed at facilitating funding, including from foreign corporates, with no transparency. It is tempting to ask why we have not pursued a different kind of electoral campaign or evaluated the actual requirements of a contesting candidate. There is no reason why a candidate should not reach out to voters, present his or her credentials, address voters’ concerns and propose what he or she will do if elected. Candidates mainly stress on the negative aspects of their rivals. Increasingly, many of them spend more time on their opponents, than on what they propose to do. Big changes are needed. Candidates can campaign together so that voters can make a better choice more transparently. There must be minimum joint public meetings in every constituency. It will help bring down poll expenditure substantially. When competing candidates address voters together, they are likely to be more positive and cordial. After all, if two bitter rivals can come together in a poll alliance, why can’t opposing candidates campaign together? Unless political leaders and parties come forward to restore the sanctity of electoral practices, nothing is going to change. And unless that happens, it is difficult to expect good governance, deepen democracy and inclusive development. It is time to relook the relevance of ECI’s code of conduct. This is not possible without the support, cooperation and participation of the news media. The judiciary needs to be consulted in repositioning the ECI. India needs an electoral shake-up as the republic enters the 75th year. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Political leaders and parties must come forward to restore the sanctity of electoral practices

The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a show cause notice to BJP leader Babul Supriyo for a poll code violation on Tuesday.&nbsp;

The additional Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Basu said, ''We are keeping a close watch on media and through the surveillance, we came to know of the election campaign song of Babul Supriyo. The All India Trinamool Congress has also registered a complaint against the song with us. We investigated the complaint and it seems that he (Babul Supriyo) promoted the song without media certification in the electronic media, social sites.''

Sanjay Basu added, ''This is a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. We have issued a show cause notice to Babul Supriyo. He has to reply to the show cause notice within 48 hours. As far as the content is concerned, we have received another complaint from the All India Trinamool Congress.''

Supriyo, on the other hand, claimed that he had not created the music video, rather media houses had covered it during the recording of the song.&nbsp;

''I will definitely reply to the show cause notice. The song will be sent to the media certification department and will be released in a proper manner from the BJP party office. I have not released the song on the social site also. During the recording, I had shared it with the party members and it seems that they have circulated it. I will abide by all the rules and regulations of the Election Commission,'' said Supriyo.&nbsp;

Earlier in the day, an FIR was lodged against Supriyo at the Asansol South Police Station for the song slamming the ruling party in the state – Trinamool Congress.&nbsp;

On the same day, a high-level delegation of the Trinamool Congress, comprising party leaders Derek O'Brien, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Dr Chandan Mitra, met the officials of Election Commission of India in Delhi on a range of issues.&nbsp;

The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a show cause notice to BJP leader Babul Supriyo for a poll code violation on Tuesday. The additional Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Basu said, ''We are keeping a close watch on media and through the surveillance, we came to know of the election campaign song of Babul Supriyo.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a show cause notice to BJP leader Babul Supriyo for a poll code violation on Tuesday. The additional Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Basu said, ''We are keeping a close watch on media and through the surveillance, we came to know of the election campaign song of Babul Supriyo. The All India Trinamool Congress has also registered a complaint against the song with us. We investigated the complaint and it seems that he (Babul Supriyo) promoted the song without media certification in the electronic media, social sites.'' Sanjay Basu added, ''This is a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. We have issued a show cause notice to Babul Supriyo. He has to reply to the show cause notice within 48 hours. As far as the content is concerned, we have received another complaint from the All India Trinamool Congress.'' Supriyo, on the other hand, claimed that he had not created the music video, rather media houses had covered it during the recording of the song. ''I will definitely reply to the show cause notice. The song will be sent to the media certification department and will be released in a proper manner from the BJP party office. I have not released the song on the social site also. During the recording, I had shared it with the party members and it seems that they have circulated it. I will abide by all the rules and regulations of the Election Commission,'' said Supriyo. Earlier in the day, an FIR was lodged against Supriyo at the Asansol South Police Station for the song slamming the ruling party in the state – Trinamool Congress. On the same day, a high-level delegation of the Trinamool Congress, comprising party leaders Derek O'Brien, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Dr Chandan Mitra, met the officials of Election Commission of India in Delhi on a range of issues.

Election Commission issues a show cause notice to Babul Supriyo for poll code violation