The Congress party on Tuesday accused the Election Commission of having 'ulterior motives' after it issued a notice to party president Mallikarjun Kharge over alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
Congress Hits Back at EC
In a strongly worded letter to the Election Commission, the Congress party said the notice smacked of 'ulterior motives' and was an attempt to silence the opposition. The party demanded that the notice be withdrawn immediately.
Background of the Notice
The Election Commission had issued a notice to Kharge on Monday over his remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a rally in Karnataka. The Congress chief had allegedly made statements that were in violation of the MCC.
The Congress party, however, defended Kharge's remarks, saying they were factual and did not violate any code. The party accused the EC of acting at the behest of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Political Reactions
Several Congress leaders came out in support of Kharge, terming the EC notice as 'biased' and 'politically motivated'. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the party would take legal recourse if the notice was not withdrawn.
The BJP, on the other hand, defended the EC's action, saying the notice was in line with the MCC and that no one was above the law.
The development comes ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka, where the Congress is locked in a fierce battle with the BJP.
