ECI issues show cause notices to VPP for disrupting campaign, creating fake news against NPP

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 10, 2024

The Election Commission of India on Wednesday issued show cause notices against the opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) for disrupting an election campaign and for using social media to create fake news against the candidate of the National People Party (NPP).

The VPP has been directed to reply to the show cause notice related to the alleged fake news before April 11 and regarding the disrupting of the election campaign before April 12.

In the notice addressed to the VPP president Ardent M Basaiawmoit, the Returning Officer of Shillong Parliamentary constituency said a complaint has been received on April 9 that on evening of April 8, during the election campaign organized by the NPP at Jaiaw, East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya supporters of the VPP began to disrupt the campaign/meeting. The VPP supporters resorted to sloganeering and thus disrupted the meeting causing it to be cancelled before time.

The notice said with the announcement of schedule of general election to Lok Sabha 2024 by the Election Commission of India vide press note dated March 16, the Model Code of Conduct comes into operation with immediate effect from March 16.

It pointed out that the Model Code of Conduct guidelines for political parties and candidates states that “Political parties and candidates shall ensure that their supporters do not create obstructions in or break up meetings and procession organized by other parties. Workers or sympathizers of one political party shall not create disturbances at public meetings organized by another political party by putting questions orally or in writing or by distributing leaflets of their own party. Processions shall not be taken out by one party along places at which meetings are held by another party. Posters issued by one party shall not be removed by workers of another party”.

“Now, therefore giving you an opportunity to be heard, you are hereby directed to show cause on or before April 12, 2024 as to why action should not be taken against you under relevant provisions of the Model Code of Conduct,” the RO said.

In a separate notice, the RO said that a complaint was also received against the VPP for using social media to create fake news against the contesting candidate of the NPP through a youtube video…(uploaded on 03.04.2024)

“In this connection, you are requested to respond to the above matter on or before April 11,” he directed.