Verma, Thakur off ‘star’ list, but can still canvass
NEWDELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) directed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday to immediately drop Union minister Anurag Thakur and parliamentarian Pravesh Verma from its list of “star campaigners” for the upcoming elections in Delhi until further orders, taking note of their controversial statements that political rivals say are divisive and communally charged.
The order does not prevent the two leaders from campaigning, a senior ECI official said on the condition of anonymity. But the money spent on their campaigns will be added to the concerned candidate’s campaign budget, which has to be declared in the election expenditure accounts and is capped at ₹28 lakh.
Leaders named “star campaigners” are exempted from any such limit, and the party pays for their campaign expenses. There is no limit on expenses by a party.
“EC has asked my name to be removed from the star campaigners’ list. But I’m allowed to campaign,” Verma, the BJP MP from West Delhi, said. “I have not said anything wrong,” he added.
ECI has also issued separate show-cause notices to Verma and
Thakur, and asked them to reply by Thursday afternoon. Both of them have been strongly criticised by Delhi’s ruling AAP and the Congress. “EC has ordered the removal of Anurag Thakur and Pravesh Verma from the list of star campaigners of BJP for the general elections to the Legislative Assembly of the NCT of Delhi with immediate effect and until further orders,” read the ECI order. Union minister and senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said: “I have been informed that Election Commission has issued some directions. We will study and If necessary, we will present a letter or application...we are putting a balanced campaign and with facts.”
On Wednesday, the poll watchdog also issued a fresh advisory, reiterating that campaigning rules prohibit leaders or candidates from making communally charged statements during election campaigns.
“No activity, which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different caste, communities, religious and linguistic groups shall be attempted,” read the order.
Verma triggered a controversy on Tuesday, alleging that protesters gathered at Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh — where a sit-in against the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act has continued for over a month — will “enter homes..rape..and kill”, and indicated that this can only be prevented if the BJP is elected to power in the state. And on Monday, Thakur, while addressing a campaign rally, chanted a provocative slogan and encouraged the crowd to complete it.