Controversial phrases such as “vote jihad,” used by some political parties during the recent Maharashtra assembly elections, are being closely examined by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Maharashtra Additional Chief Electoral Officer Dr Kiran Kulkarni told news agency PTI that more than 650 cases of election code violations were registered during the state elections. Enforcement agencies are ensuring these cases are pursued to a logical conclusion, according to an official.
When asked about the term “vote jihad,” Kulkarni said, “The ECI is carefully analysing its implications across legal, linguistic, and social domains before taking further action. We should be cautious with terms like ‘vote jihad’ because they have serious repercussions.”
He noted that the phrase is new and requires thorough study, with legal, linguistic, social, and religious aspects being considered. Kulkarni said that ECI officials, including the Chief Electoral Officer, are reviewing the matter before making a decision.
He cautioned against drawing quick conclusions about the impact of such controversial phrases on election discourse. “It’s a long-term process. Words and their references need to be defined and analysed thoroughly. There is no airtight legal framework for new terminology, so we must handle such matters carefully, keeping in mind their consequences,” Kulkarni said.
Elections to Maharashtra’s 288-member legislative assembly were held on November 20, and counting of votes took place on Novemebr 23. The election code of conduct had come into effect on October 15.
Kulkarni also revealed that 659 cases of election code violations were filed, a significant increase from the 366 cases during the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year. “Our investigating agencies did excellent work in the Lok Sabha cases, with 300 chargesheets already filed in courts,” he said.
Regarding the assembly election cases, Kulkarni said enforcement agencies are actively investigating, and all chargesheets will be filed in courts to ensure the cases reach a logical conclusion. The timeline for action depends on the judiciary, he added. “These are criminal cases, so they follow the due process. Courts are serious about election-related offenses, and we are requesting expedited resolution,” he said.
On complaints of hate speech, Kulkarni said these are addressed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). “Some complaints were verified as genuine, and cases were filed under relevant legal provisions. However, the model code of conduct is not a law, but a consensual guideline supported by various laws,” he explained.
Kulkarni also dismissed allegations of booth capturing during the polls. “Booth capturing has never happened in Maharashtra. With EVMs, it is meaningless because the machines are robust and data is retrievable. There were six reported instances of disruption during voting, but the polling process was restored within an hour,” he said. In one case, an EVM was replaced to clear any doubts.