Poll panel withdraws notice issued to Rahul
NEWDELHI: The Election Commission on Sunday withdrew its show cause notice issued to Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his televised interviews, citing that technological advancements have required a review of the model of conduct.
Considering the “multi-fold expansion of digital and electronic media”, the commission further decided setting up a committee to review the extent of the code (section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951).
In an order issued on Sunday night, it said the proposed committee will have members from the poll panel, the information and broadcasting, law and IT ministries, in addition to those from the National Broadcasters Associations (NBA) and Press Council of India (PCI).
The Election Commission had on Wednesday sought an explanation from Gandhi for appearing in television interviews after campaigning had ended in Gujarat.
According to the model code, no “election matter” can be propagated within 48 hours before completion of polls.
“It appears imperative to revisit the provisions relating to the last 48 hours before completion of poll to appropriately address challenges unleashed by fast changing technologies in the context of multi-phase polls,” the poll panel said.
Following the political protest over Gandhi’s interviews, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) meeting and the release of the BJP manifesto, the poll panel also ordered registration of cases against channels.