News Brief
(L-R) Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) and Congress president Rahul Gandhi (Qamar Sibtain/India Today Group/Getty Images)
The Election Commission of India has taken congnisance of alleged moral code of conduct (MCC) violations by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
The poll panel has issued notices to BJP chief J P Nadda and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge regarding the alleged MCC violations by their star campaigners.
Accusations against the two leaders include promoting enmity based on religion, caste, community, or language.
The Commission has sought responses from both BJP and Congress by 11 am on 29 April.
This development follows complaints filed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress.
The commission invoked section 77 of the Representation of the People Act and held party presidents responsible, as first step, to reign in star campaigners.
Earlier this week, political tensions escalated as both parties lodged complaints against each other's leaders.
The BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of creating regional divides between the North and South of India.
Meanwhile, the Congress called for the Commission to act against PM Modi for his alleged 'divisive' campaign tactics.
As the Lok Sabha elections continue, the BJP and Congress have engaged in a heated exchange of accusations.
The BJP has criticised the Congress for its minority appeasement policies, while the Congress has accused the BJP of fostering religious divisions and manipulating media narratives against them.