Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has called for the Election Commission to ban Prime Minister Narendra Modi from campaigning in the upcoming Karnataka elections. Gehlot accused Modi of violating the Election Commission’s guidelines by seeking votes based on religion. Speaking at a press conference in Jaipur, Gehlot said that Modi’s campaigning should be barred.
According to Gehlot, Modi’s election stands rejected as he is violating the law by campaigning on religious grounds. Gehlot also took potshots at Modi, saying, “Read the law… if someone talks in the name of religion, on religious grounds in the election campaign, the ban should be imposed.”
The Rajasthan Chief Minister also commented on the Congress manifesto for the Karnataka polls, which talks about taking decisive action against organizations such as the Bajrang Dal and the Popular Front of India, which are accused of spreading hatred among communities based on caste and religion. The Congress has said it will take firm and decisive action against such organizations, including imposing a ban on them.
Gehlot stated that the real question is the role of such organizations, regardless of their name. He also accused the saffron party of failing to polarize Karnataka and highlighted the issues of inflation and unemployment as the real concerns of the state.
The Karnataka Assembly election is scheduled for May 10, with the counting of votes set to occur on May 13. The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are the two main contenders in the election, with both parties campaigning aggressively to secure victory. The Congress has been highlighting its achievements during its tenure in power, while the BJP has been focusing on issues such as corruption and development.
The Election Commission is yet to respond to Gehlot’s appeal to ban Modi from campaigning in Karnataka. However, the incident highlights the intense political competition and charged atmosphere leading to the state elections.
