Elections News Digest: EC Bars Yogi, Mayawati From Canvassing for 72/48 Hours

New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) on Monday barred BJP leader and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Bahujan Samaj Party leader from campaigning in the Lok Sabha elections for 48 and 72 hours, respectively.

While the action against Mayawati came for violating the model code of conduct when she asked Muslims at a rally in Saharanpur to vote in a consolidated manner in favour of the Mahagathbandhan, Adityanath was barred over his "Ali and Bajrang Bali" comment in Meerut.

"The Commission, under Article 324 of the Constitution and other powers enabling in this behalf, bars him from holding any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, road shows and interviews, public utterances in media (electronic, print, social media) in connection with ongoing elections for 72 hours from 6 a.m. on April 16 (Tuesday)," the EC order on Adityanath said.

In a separate order, the poll panel censured Mayawati and "strongly condemned the impugned statements made by her".

It said she would also be barred from holding any public meetings, processions, rallies, road shows and interviews, public utterance in media related to elections for 48 hours.

Maneka Stokes More Fire, Says Will Grade Villages By Votes

Lucknow: Even before the controversy over her vote-for-job statements for Muslims could settle down, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi has made another statement -- this time classifying villages on the basis of votes she gets.

A BJP candidate from Sultanpur, Maneka Gandhi said at a meeting: "I will develop an ABCD system and prioritise development work on this basis.

"For instance, villages that cast 80% votes for BJP will be put in category A, those that cast 60% votes will be in category B and so on and so forth."

She further said that this would help in developing a framework for development.

"Villages in A category will get priority in development and then will come the turn of other categories. It is up to you whether you make it to A, B, C or D. No one should fall in D category as we all come here to do well," she said.

The BJP leader is already facing a notice from the Election Commission for her earlier statement in which she said that if Muslims do not vote for her, they should not expect her to give them jobs.

SC Asks EC to View Modi Biopic and Review Order

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Election Commission to watch the ‘PM Narendra Modi’, a biopic on the prime minister, and review its decision to put the movie on hold.

The apex court asked the EC to finalise the decision by Friday and submit it to the court in a sealed cover. The EC will also give a hearing to the representatives of the producer of the biopic. The producers of the film approached the Supreme Court against the Election Commission order.

“We are informed that EC had no occasion to watch the movie or substantial part of it. The order passed on viewing the short trailer. We are not commenting on the merits of the order but we direct the EC to view the movie either by itself or authorised body and thereafter to give a thought to what petitioners have to say and then consider the matter for public viewing of the movie,” said the Supreme Court, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Mehbooba Mufti’s Convoy Pelted

Srinagar: People Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's convoy was attacked with stones in Anantnag district while she was returning from a shrine there, NDTV reported citing officials.

Mehbooba Mufti is contesting the ongoing Lok Sabha election from the Anantnag seat, which she had won in 2014, and had gone to a shrine at Khirram in Anantnag district to pay her obeisance and was returning to Bijbehara when the incident took place.

As per reports, a spare vehicle in the the former CM’s convoy was damaged in the stone-throwing and the driver was hurt. She and others in her entourage, including the PDP president, escaped unhurt.