The Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated legal action against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates Tejasvi Surya and K. Sudhakar for alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Surya, who is contesting from the Bengaluru South Parliamentary Constituency (PC), and Sudhakar, contesting from the Chikkaballapura constituency, have been booked for separate offenses.
Tejasvi Surya faces charges under Section 123(3) of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), which prohibits appeals to voters based on religion. His social media post on X (formerly Twitter) has come under scrutiny for allegedly soliciting votes on religious grounds. The post included a video of Ram Lalla’s Surya Tilak at Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir and was accompanied by a caption that appeared to appeal to voters’ religious sentiments. The Karnataka chief electoral officer (CEO), Manoj Kumar Meena, noted that a case was registered against Surya at the Jayanagar police station in Bengaluru on April 25, 2024, for the violation.
Surya’s post included the following text: “Our generation was blessed to witness the majestic Surya Tilak on Bhagwan Shri Ram at Ayodhya on Ram Navami. A wait for almost 500 years & a wish of crores of Bharatiyas was fulfilled by PM Shri @narendramodi Ji. For Bharatiyata to survive, vote for BJP! #DakshinakkeSurya.” The BJP MP did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.
In another case, K. Sudhakar, the BJP candidate for the Chikkaballapura constituency, is facing allegations of bribery and undue influence. A significant amount of cash, totaling ₹4.8 crore, was seized by the Flying Squads Team (FST) in Chikkaballapura. CEO Meena confirmed that the seizure led to a first information report (FIR) against Sudhakar under relevant legal provisions. The FIR was registered at the Madanayakanahally police station, also on April 25, 2024.
The BJP’s legal cell convenor, Vasanth Kumar, mentioned that the party has lodged five complaints with the ECI against opposition candidates, alleging MCC violations. Among the complaints are claims of canvassing within polling booths and the distribution of cash to voters, with one of the cases involving Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The cases against Surya and Sudhakar demonstrate the ECI’s commitment to upholding the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring compliance with the Model Code of Conduct. These developments underscore the challenges in maintaining fair elections and serve as a reminder of the consequences for those who breach the rules.
