The Election Commission of India (ECI) has expressed serious concern over the failure to remove an “objectionable post” by BJP Karnataka on a certain platform, despite a legally valid letter from the Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka, and an FIR filed in the matter. The ECI has directed the microblogging website to take down the post immediately. This decision came after BJP Karnataka did not remove the post as instructed.
The contentious post, uploaded on May 4 by the state BJP unit, featured an animated video targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the reservation issue. Despite a complaint filed by the Congress party to the Election Commission on May 5, alleging an intent to incite violence, BJP Karnataka did not comply with the Chief Electoral Officer’s order to remove the post.
Subsequently, the High Grounds police in Bengaluru filed a case against BJP national president JP Nadda, IT cell head Amit Malviya, and state president BY Vijayendra under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. Karnataka is conducting Lok Sabha elections for 28 seats in two phases, with the voting for the remaining 14 seats underway today. The counting of votes is scheduled for June 4. In the 2019 elections, BJP secured a significant victory in the state, winning 25 out of 28 seats, while Congress and JD-S, in coalition, managed to secure only one seat each.