The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to direct to lodge an FIR against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge for allegedly violating the model code of conduct ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra. The BJP accused the leaders of conducting a “malicious and slanderous” campaign against the party.
In a memorandum submitted to the Election Commission, the BJP claimed that Gandhi’s remarks during a November 6 campaign event in Mumbai spread falsehoods and fuelled divisions between states.
Gandhi had said that several major projects, including the iPhone factory and a Boeing unit, were moved from Maharashtra to Gujarat. He also made allegations about the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP, including unsubstantiated claims that they wanted to “finish the Constitution” and that RSS membership, rather than merit, was a qualification for vice-chancellor appointments.
“We told the chief election commissioner’s office that Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi tried to spread falsehood and make states fight with each other. He lied that the BJP was going to finish the Constitution. It’s false propaganda and it should be stopped,” Union minister and senior BJP leader Arjun Ram Meghwal told reporters after submitting the memorandum.
“We also told the Election Commission that Rahul Gandhi is repeatedly trying to pit people of one state against another on issues of language and investments despite the EC showcause notices issued earlier, and said that an FIR should be lodged against him in the matter,” Meghwal added.
The BJP further alleged that Gandhi violated the model code of conduct by falsely accusing Gujarat of “stealing and snatching” opportunities from Maharashtra. The party argued that these statements were inflammatory and could incite division among the youth in Maharashtra, which could undermine the country’s unity and integrity.
The BJP also pointed out that Maharashtra had actually led the country in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), receiving Rs 70,795 crore from April to June 2024-25.
“We request the Commission to reprimand, censure and restrain Rahul Gandhi from handing out lies during election campaigns for the remaining period of electioneering, and direct registration of FIR against Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi,” the memorandum stated.
The BJP delegation that submitted the memorandum to the Election Commission included Meghwal, national general secretary Arun Singh, senior leader Sanjay Mayukh, and national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla.
The Maharashtra election will be held in a single phase on November 20 and counting of votes will be on November 23.