Rajasthan Chunav: Action on Rahul Gandhi, Election Commission notice on ‘Panauti’

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a notice to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his derogatory remarks targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Rajasthan Assembly election campaign. The ECI has directed Gandhi to respond to the notice by November 25, 2023.

The notice stems from a complaint filed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleging that Gandhi, during a public meeting in Rajasthan on November 21, 2023, had insulted Prime Minister Modi by referring to him as “Panauti,” a Hindi term loosely translating to “bad omen” or “bringer of misfortune.”

In its notice, the ECI has stated that under the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), which governs political campaigning during elections, making unverified allegations against political opponents is strictly prohibited. The ECI has sought an explanation from Gandhi regarding his remarks and whether they constitute a violation of the MCC.

Gandhi’s remarks, made in Barmer’s Bayatu and Udaipur’s Vallabhnagar, had drawn sharp criticism from the BJP and other political parties. BJP leader and Union Minister Anurag Thakur had condemned Gandhi’s statement, terming it “disrespectful” to the Prime Minister and the country. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had also expressed disapproval of Gandhi’s remarks, stating that they were “insulting” to the Prime Minister.

Gandhi, in response to the backlash, had issued an apology, clarifying that his intention was not to insult anyone. However, the ECI has taken the matter seriously and has initiated proceedings to determine whether Gandhi’s remarks constitute a violation of the MCC. The ECI’s decision is expected to be issued soon.