'Juban sambhal ke,' EC is watching!

Firebrand politicians beware! After the Varun Gandhi episode, the Election Commission (EC) is keeping a close watch on every politician known for his or her inflammatory speeches. So, Juban Pe Lagam, is the only mantra to escape any punitive action by the EC.

The EC has instructed chief electoral officer (CEO) of every state to order the district and taluka level officers to strictly monitor speeches of leading politicians during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The directive has come after Varun Gandhi’s controversial speeches on March 7 and 8 at Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh.

The EC had held that Varun violated clauses (1) and (3) of Item 1 (general conduct) of
the model code of conduct by promoting feelings of enmity and hatred among different classes on the ground of religion, besides outraging the religious feeling of a particular community.

Highly placed sources said, “After the Varun Gandhi episode, the EC has instructed election officials to record speeches of leading politicians and if anyone gives an inflammatory speech or violates the model code of conduct, immediately register a complaint against the leader.”

Since March 2, when the election code of conduct came into force, the chief electoral officer of Gujarat has received more than 270 complaints of model code violation. The poll officials are extra-cautious in Gujarat, as the state had witnessed many incidents of leaders giving inflammatory speeches during elections.