'Crores of rupees have been spent on paper but nothing has actually happened on the ground.'
Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi on Wednesday said that the debate on Lokpal Bill does not have any link with the Election Process as the model code of conduct does not apply to Parliament.
The poll panel also referred to the instances of "inappropriate vocabulary and language" used during the ongoing campaign by persons, "in particular, by those invested with the statutory status of star campaigner".
The poll panel on Friday took note of alleged breach of 'ethical and dignified behaviour' and revoked the 'star campaigner' status of the Congress leader. While the political party pays for the expenditure of a star campaigner, the candidate pays for the expenditure of other campaigners.
Bihar's grand alliance has complained to the Election Commission about Bharatiya Janata Party workers from the state allegedly being taken to saffron party-ruled states for "training" by special trains at concessional rates in violation of the norms and demanded action under the anti-graft law.
The schedule for Gujarat will be announced separately.
India's merchandise exports dipped marginally in March to $41.69 billion, and by 3.11 per cent during the last fiscal year to $437.06 billion mainly due to continued geopolitical turmoil, and depressed global trade. Imports, too, declined in March as well during the entire 2023-24. Trade deficit, or the gap between imports and exports, narrowed 17.74 per cent in March to $15.6 billion and came down 9.33 per cent to $240.17 billion in FY24.
Taking strong exception to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar describing RJD chief Lalu Prasad as "king of terror", the party on Wednesday said it would move the Election Commission seeking action against the JD-U leader for breaching model code of conduct in place for Bihar Assembly polls.
A notice was on Thursday slapped on the Aam Aadmi Party by election authorities for alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct over Tuesday's violent protest by Arvind Kejriwal party supporters outside the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters in the national capital.
Over 100 ex-servicemen have signed the petition asking for early implementation of OROP without any dilution.
A case has been lodged against cricketer-turned politician Mohammed Azharuddin and Union Minister RPN Singh in Kushinagar district for alleged violation of the election model code of conduct, a senior official said.
The CEC said the commission would not allow any kind of violation that puts a particular political party at an advantage over another.
Atishi claimed that in recent times, many events have happened that indicate the possibility of the imposition of the President's Rule in the national capital.
Kamal Nath had expressed regret over it and asserted that he did not say anything disrespectful.
the Congress too petitioned the Election Commission for action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for addressing an event organised by an industry body on the eve of the final phase of the Gujarat polls where he attacked the main opposition party.
Fadnavis has assured full support to work out a solution with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and civil aviation ministry after the last round of polling is completed and model code of conduct is withdrawn.
The farmers also marched along the ambulance and demanded action against those who are responsible for his death.
The AAP on Wednesday last had posted a video story on 'X' featuring industrialist Gautam Adani and Prime Minister Modi. The next day, the party posted a picture of Adani and Modi, and alleged that the prime minister works for the industrialist and not the people.
Accusing Rahul Gandhi of "inciting riotous behaviour" through his speeches at poll rallies, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission seeking action against him and Congress for violating the model code.
The polling body said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not violate the model code or its advisory on armed forces in his speech in Varanasi. It also found nothing wrong in his comments made in Nanded, Maharashtra where he reportedly dubbed the Congress as a 'sinking Titanic'.
A case was registered against Sood under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code on Sunday in Moga district, according to an FIR.
Dismissing the complaint of Congress, the Election Commission on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's October 3 radio broadcast did not constitute violation of the model code of conduct.
Acting on a Congress complaint, the Election Commission on Wednesday slapped a notice on Narendra Modi for prima facie violating the model code of conduct over his "khooni panja" (bloodied hand) remark on the Congress poll symbol.
The notice cited Ghosh's alleged remarks that "if someone crosses his limits then you have seen what happened in Sitalkuchi. There will be Sitalkuchi in several places."
On a day Ashok Lavasa's decision to recuse from model code of conduct complaints became public, the EC said the 'full commission' would meet on May 21 to discuss the issue of dissent and 'related matters'.
Coming under the Election Commission scanner for his remarks on minorities sub-quota, Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma on Monday replied to the poll body notice pleading not guilty to violation of model code of conduct.
'In case of multi-phase elections, manifesto shall not be released during the prohibitory periods, as prescribed under Section 126 of the RP Act of all the phases of those elections'
The half-page advertisements in Hindi and Gujarati in almost all English and language dailies had accused the UPA government of trying to rub salt into the wounds of the people affected in the 2002 Sabarmati Express train burning case.
Giving a clean chit to Gandhi, EC officials said the "complaint was examined in detail and after examination of the complete transcript of speech sent by the district electoral officer of Jabalpur, the Commission is of the considered view that no violation of the model code of conduct is made out."
A war of words has erupted in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh after the Congress objected to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party putting up hoardings taking credit for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Terming the petition as "highly adventurous" and against the fundamental principles of the law, a bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora said courts do not make policy decisions and that it is for Parliament to decide on such issues.
Nath has been reprimanded for repeated violations of the model code while campaigning for the bypolls in 28 assembly constituencies in the state.
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Sunday ended his sit-in protest outside Khajuraho police station in Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh against the death of a party worker during assembly polls held on November 17.
The Election Commission on Friday gave the go-ahead to the airing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann ki Baat programme on Sunday.
The only visible hint of the impending election is the hoardings put up by local election authorities, urging citizens to exercise their franchise.
Recommending statutory backup to the model code of conduct, a parliamentary committee has sought to take away certain powers vested with the Election Commission like de-recognising a political party.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist on Saturday accused the Election Commission of being indifferent to the violation of the model code of conduct by the Trinamool Congress and said it might seek legal recourse.
The court, however, kept the disqualification in suspension for one month, allowing Swamy to file an appeal in the Supreme Court.
The mobile phone manufacturers are planning to plead with the government that the new rules suggested by the DoT could leave them with no option but to stop introducing new phone models in the country if the stringent rules are eventually approved.
Taking note of the "revenge" remark made by Narendra Modi's close aide Amit Shah while campaigning in riot-affected areas of Uttar Pradesh, the Election Commission on Monday issued notice to him for prima facie violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
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