The Election Commission of India (ECI,) on the 1st of May, barred Babubhai Ryka, the president of the Indian National Congress (INC) in Surat from campaigning for the next 72 hours.
According to the ECI, Ryka used ‘intemperate and abusive language transgressing the limits of decency.’ Babubhai Ryka, on the 11th of April, addressed the Indian National Congress (INC) workers and used abusive language against the opposition parties.
This ban is going to come into force from 6.00 A.M., on the 2nd of May and is going to last for the next 72 hours.
Apart from Babubhai Ryka, the ECI banned Pragya Singh Thakur, the Member of Parliament (MP) candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from campaigning.
The ECI also issued a show cause notice to the INC member Navjot Singh Sidhu, for his defamatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The ECI also asked Mr. Sidhu to respond with an explanation regarding his words by the 2nd of May, following which the ECI will take action against him.
The ECI issues the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) to ensure the smooth elections across India. According to the MCC, which is a set of guidelines followed by every politician and political party during the Assembly and the Lok Sabha elections in India. The MCC comes in action after the ECI releases the dates of the elections and are valid till the results of the elections are announced.
The Lok Sabha elections started from the 11th of April and will continue till the 19th of May.
The Lok Sabha elections are divided into 7 phases, scheduled on the 11th of April, 18th of April, 23rd of April, 29th of April, 6th of May, 12th of May and 19th of May.
The major parties contesting the Lok Sabha elections are the INC and the BJP.
Stay tuned for further updates.