Opposition run to Election Commission of India over 'MCC violation'

PM Narendra Modi's visit to Kedarnath and Badrinath shrines turned into a political slugfest on Sunday with Trinamool Congress, the TDP and a Congress MP complaining to the Election Commission (EC) that "continuous" telecast of Modi's "private activities" is a violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

While Modi "thanked" the EC for giving him the permission, Congress president Rahul Gandhi hit out at the poll body, and said, "From Electoral bonds and EVMs to manipulating the election schedule, NaMo TV, 'Modi's Army' and now the drama in Kedarnath; the Election Commission's capitulation before Mr Modi and his gang is obvious to all Indians."

Meanwhile, citing that campaigning for the final phase of polls was over on May 17, TMC leader Derek O'Brien, in his letter to the EC urged that the broadcast of Modi's visit to the shrines should be 'stopped' as it's a violation of the MCC.

After TMC, Andhra Pradesh CM and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, who was in New Delhi, also wrote to the EC and alleged that this is "indirect canvassing" to influence voters through a person's religious beliefs and public display of his personal religious activities.