The State Congress in a written complaint to Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Jaideep Govind has raised apprehensions over publication of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government advertisements in various magazines after the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into force in the State.
Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) vice-president Manak Agarwal in a statement here on Monday said, “We have brought to the knowledge of the MP CEO through a written complaint that after the imposition of MCC in the State on
March 5, multi-colored advertisements praising different so called achievements of the BJP Government of the State were published in hundreds of magazines in March issues that is highly objectionable.”
Agarwal further said that the magazines with these advertisements are being distributed free of cost in various public programs of the saffron party. The Congress fears that if the distribution of these magazines that were published after the second week of March is not stopped with the interference of the Election Commission of India (ECI), then it is for sure that these would work to get benefit to the BJP in the general elections to be held in April in the State, he added.
He said, “We have provided some issues of such magazines in support of our complaint to the MP CEO. Two advertisements in these magazines show chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in such light that would affect the electorate emotionally and would be beneficial for the BJP in the lok Sabha polls, he added.
He said it is unethical to publicise Government achievements after the imposition of MCC that came into effect in the State on March 5. But the BJP deliberately overlooked this provision as it does not have belief in the democratic institutions, he added. The Congress party demanded the EC stop circulation of such magazines and take action against those who are involved in the violation of MCC.