Election Commission asks Centre to cease 'Viksit Bharat' WhatsApp campaign

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Thursday issued a notice to the government, asking to stop the dissemination of WhatsApp messages related to 'Viksit Bharat'.

The ECI’s order came following complaints from Opposition parties about a communication from Prime Minister Narendra Modi that allegedly breached regulations.

Citing the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), currently in force, the ECI asked an immediate compliance report from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on this matter.

The Commission acknowledged the Centre's response on March 16, stating that the WhatsApp messages were dispatched on March 15, prior to the implementation of the MCC. The Ministry clarified that while the messages were dispatched before the MCC period, delays in delivery occurred due to system architecture and network constraints.

However, numerous individuals in India have purportedly continued to receive messages after March 15 from "Viksit Bharat Sampark", with a letter bearing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's name originating from a series of verified WhatsApp Business accounts.

In his message, addressing recipients as "Dear family member," the Prime Minister underscored the imminent completion of a decade-long partnership and expressed gratitude for the trust and support of 1.4 billion Indians, citing it as a source of inspiration.

He highlighted the transformative changes witnessed in people's lives as the government's major achievement over the past decade, attributing these outcomes to the diligent efforts of a resolute administration in enhancing the quality of life for marginalized communities, farmers, youth, and women.

Opposition leaders criticized the incumbent government for alleged MCC violations and urged the ECI to take action against the BJP.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor raised concerns about the misuse of government resources, questioning whether the Election Commission would address the blatant exploitation of government machinery and data to advance the partisan interests of the ruling party.

TMC MP Saket Gokhale alleged that individuals not only in India but also visitors from around the world were being inundated with 'Viksit Bharat' WhatsApp messages promoting Modi and the BJP.