JMM Accuses Congress and BJP of Model Code Violations in Ranchi Civic Polls
With less than a week remaining until elections for the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC), political tensions have escalated significantly. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has formally accused both its coalition partner, the Congress, and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of blatantly violating the model code of conduct (MCC). The party has urgently appealed to the State Election Commission (SEC) to take immediate action against these alleged infractions.
Specific Allegations Against BJP and Congress Candidates
Addressing the media from the JMM party office, central general secretary and spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya presented detailed accusations. "The BJP-backed mayoral candidate, Roshni Khalko, is openly using the party's official symbols alongside the symbol officially allotted to her," Bhattacharya stated emphatically. "She is publicly declaring herself as a BJP worker. Furthermore, photographs featuring numerous BJP leaders alongside the party symbol are being displayed without restraint."
Bhattacharya asserted that similar violations are being committed by the Congress-backed candidate, Rama Khalko. It is important to note that the election for the RMC mayor is technically conducted on a non-political basis. However, in practice, all major political parties have openly endorsed and are campaigning for their preferred candidates. The JMM itself has announced its support for candidate Sujit Vijay Anand Kujur.
JMM's Appeal and Political Positioning
"I earnestly appeal to the State Election Commission to take cognizance of these serious violations," Bhattacharya declared. He emphasized that the JMM had maintained considerable restraint until this point. "However, we have now chosen to formally address this issue, seated before our party flags and symbol, to highlight the misconduct surrounding these crucial civic body polls."
In a broader appeal, Bhattacharya urged the business community and the general public of Ranchi to rise above partisan politics. He called on voters to select the best candidate for the betterment of the state capital. He referenced the recent participation of a Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI) delegation accompanying Chief Minister Hemant Soren to the World Economic Forum in Davos as evidence of the government's inclusive approach. "This demonstrates our government's commitment to working with all stakeholders. In this election too, people should come forward and vote in the larger interest of Ranchi's development," he added.
Congress and BJP Counter-Allegations
The Congress party swiftly rejected the JMM's claims. Party spokesperson Rakesh Sinha countered, "We do not believe that photographs of Congress leaders are being improperly used by our supported mayoral candidate. These allegations are baseless and untrue."
In a retaliatory move, the BJP accused the JMM of its own MCC violation. A BJP delegation, comprising Sudhir Srivastava and Ashok Baraik, approached the SEC in the evening to file a formal complaint. Their memorandum argued that Bhattacharya's media address from the party office itself constituted a breach. "The manner in which he utilized the party's election symbol during today's press conference is a clear violation of the model code of conduct," the BJP's complaint stated.
As the election date draws near, these mutual accusations of MCC violations between the ruling alliance partners and the main opposition party have intensified the political atmosphere in Ranchi, setting the stage for a highly contested civic poll.
