Election wrap: EC takes note of MCC violations by PM Modi & Rahul Gandhi, SP's switcheroos and more

The BJP had written to EC that Gandhi levelled malafide and utterly sinister allegations against Modi during a speech in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

In a major development, the Election Commission on Thursday announced that it had taken cognisance of violations to the Model Code of Conduct by both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and sought responses from both the parties by April 29. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on April 25 filed his nomination papers from Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj for Lok Sabha elections 2024. He was accompanied by party leaders, including Ram Gopal Yadav.

This and more in today's top political developments --

EC takes note of alleged poll code violations by PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi

Taking cognisance for the first time of a model code violation allegation against a prime minister, the Election Commission on Thursday asked the BJP to respond to complaints filed by opposition parties wherein they have accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of delivering a divisive and defamatory speech in Rajasthan's Banswara.

The poll panel also asked the Congress to respond to complaints filed by the BJP against the main opposition party's president Mallikarjun Kharge and its senior leader Rahul Gandhi regarding their respective remarks. The ECI has sought responses by 11 am on April 29.

The BJP had written to EC that Gandhi levelled malafide and utterly sinister allegations against Modi during a speech in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. It also accused Kharge of violating the model code by claiming that he was not invited to the Ram temple consecration ceremony due to discrimination against SCs and STs.

Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha polls: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav files his nomination from Kannauj

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on April 25 filed his nomination papers from Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj for Lok Sabha elections 2024. He was accompanied by party leaders, including Ram Gopal Yadav.

"I have filed my nomination papers. The sentiments of the party, leaders, workers, and everyone were that I should contest the election from here (Kannauj) on behalf of the Samajwadi Party. I express my gratitude to everyone. I hope I will get blessings from here," he said after filing his nomination.

The party announced on April 24 that Yadav will contest the elections from Kannauj just two days after it had declared another candidate for the UP seat. Earlier, Akhilesh Yadav's nephew Tej Pratap Yadav was declared as the party candidate from Kannauj.

'Happy to meet in person and...': Kharge writes to PM Modi, seeks time to explain Cong manifesto

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought time from him to explain in person his party's manifesto titled 'Nyay Patra'. Kharge, in his two-page letter, told the Prime Minister that he is being misinformed by his advisors about things that are not even written in the Congress' manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

"The Congress 'Nyay Patra' aims at providing nyay (justice) to the youth, women, farmers, labours and marginalised people across all castes and communities," Kharge said. "You are being misinformed by your advisors about things that are not even written in our manifesto. I would be more than happy to meet you in person to explain our Nyay Patra so that as the Prime Minister of the country, you don't make any statements that are false," he added.

The Congress chief also said he is neither shocked nor surprised by the language used by the Prime Minister in his recent speeches.

Rajiv Gandhi scrapped inheritance law to save his property, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said late former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi scrapped the "inheritance law to save his property".

"The facts relating to Inheritance Tax are eye-opening ... When former PM Indira Gandhi died, her children were going to get her property. But there was a rule earlier, that before the property goes to the children some part of it was taken by the government ... To save the property so that it does not go to the government, the then PM Rajiv Gandhi scrapped the inheritance law..." said PM Modi while addressing a public rally in Madhya Pradesh's Morena.

He also accused the Congress of using "religious appeasement as a pawn". "There is a Congress government in Karnataka ... They have declared all the people of the Muslim community in Karnataka as OBC. Congress added so many new people into the OBC community that earlier OBCs used to get reservations in education and government jobs but now the reservation they used to get was secretly snatched away from them..." he said.

Jairam Ramesh challenges PM Modi over wealth redistribution remark, says 'inheritance tax' not on Congress' agenda

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "redistribution of wealth" remarks, saying not a word has been mentioned about it in the party's Lok Sabha election manifesto.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that our manifesto talks about wealth redistribution. I challenge him that in our 50-page manifesto, there is not one word that hints at wealth redistribution...," he said while addressing a press conference.

The Congress leader also clarified the party's stance on inheritance tax amid an uproar over Sam Pitroda's remarks. He said, "I want to clarify one thing. There is no mention of inheritance tax in our manifesto, it is not our agenda. The truth is, that in 1985, PM Rajiv Gandhi abolished the inheritance tax... We never mentioned anything about inheritance tax."

Addressing a rally in Rajasthan’s Banswara, Modi had alleged the Congress plans to give people’s hard-earned money and valuables to “infiltrators” and “those who have more children”.