New Delhi, The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has levelled serious accusations against the Election Commission of India, claiming that the regulatory body is functioning as an “extended wing of the BJP.â€� AAPâ€
s chief spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar made the allegations in the wake of the Commission’s directive to a prominent social media platform to remove certain posts by the party, which were said to violate the Model Code of Conduct.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the AAP spokesperson voiced the party’s discontent during a press conference, focusing on the Election Commissionâ€s order for the removal of AAP’s posts from the unnamed social media platform ‘Xâ€. The Model Code of Conduct, which governs the behavior of political parties and candidates during elections, was enforced on March 16 following the announcement of the Lok Sabha poll schedule.
The AAP’s criticism intensified after it had lodged two formal complaints with the Election Commission regarding BJP’s posts and hoardings, which the party claims have not been acted upon. “It is the countryâ€s misfortune that the EC is working as an extended wing of the BJP. We have filed two complaints with the EC but no action has been taken,” stated Kakkar.
The Election Commission’s orders to the social media platform were dated April 2 and April 3, with a subsequent follow-up on April 10. In these communications, the Commission pointed to a breach of the “voluntary code of ethics,â€� pressing the platform to comply with the removal of the reported posts.
The social media company ‘X†highlighted that the directives from the EC required action on content related to political speech from elected officials and candidates, triggering a debate over the balance between regulation and free expression during the electoral process.