The BJP and the Congress traded charges against each other for trying to influence the voters in the mandatory no-campaign period.
A day before the final phase of polling in Gujarat, the Election Commission cracked the whip on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and certain television channels that aired his interviews even after the end of campaigning.
The BJP and the Congress traded charges against each other for trying to influence the voters in the mandatory no-campaign period.
Within hours of the filing of three complaints by the BJP, the EC served a showcase notice to Rahul on Wednesday and ordered FIR against certain Gujarati television channels.
The EC asked Rahul to explain by December 18 why he violated the poll code of no campaign within 48 hours of the conclusion of the final day of polling.
The EC also instructed the Gujarat Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to stop the display of such matter in districts going to the polls on December 14.
Following the EC's step, the Congress reacted sharply and called it partisan. The party demanded from the EC that an FIR be filed against BJP leaders. At the EC's doorstep, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala described it as an attempt to strangle the press.
"In 2014 Mr Modi had given a television interview just a day before the polling, and on the day of polling, he had even displayed the BJP symbol, but EC did not act then. On December 8, a day before the first phase, the BJP finance minister released the manifesto but EC did not issue a show cause," he said.
In his first interview, Rahul said the "BJP is not scared of him but of the voice of Gujarat."
"In the last three months, I have just raised the voice of Gujarat. They are not scared of me. They are scared of the voice of Gujarat. This election is not about Rahul Gandhi or Narendra Modi. This is about the voice of Gujarat," Rahul told TV channels.
He also accused the BJP of distorting his image by putting huge money.
"There was no (image) makeover. BJP workers used money to distort the reality of Rahul Gandhi... a lot of money was put into this," said Rahul.
Reacting to the BJP's oft-repeated line that Rahul is BJP's biggest ally as he makes it win wherever he goes, he termed Prime Minister Narednra Modi his biggest help.
The second phase of Gujarat is today, on December 14.
Hitting out, Cabinet Minister Piyush Goyal said, "Congress is so scared and Rahul Gandhi is desperate to save his face. That is why he violated the Model Code of Conduct and gave interviews. We don't think such interviews are allowed in the 48 hours prior to polls. We have never given such interviews."
He also claimed that the undercurrent which Rahul said was present in Gujarat, will work against the Congress, and the BJP will win over 150 seats in the 182-seat Assembly.
In a strong retort, the Congress alleged that the BJP was threatening journalists in Gujarat for airing Rahul's interview and urged the EC to take notice of it.
Surjewala claimed that some journalists were receiving threats from high-level state BJP functionaries who were telling mediapersons that they would be jailed for violating the poll code.
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