2009 Indian general election campaign controversies

Political controversies in India December 2019 December 2019 The 2009 Indian general election was held in five phases between 16 April – 13 May 2009. During the course of the campaign, several controversies arose, with parties being accused by one another and the Election Commission of India of violating the model code of conduct that was in force during the election. Indian National Congress The Election Commission took exception to a full page advertisement on the 2010 Commonwealth Games taken out in major Delhi newspapers. The advertisement listed the infrastructural facilities that have come up in preparation for the 2010 event – including 24 flyovers, 75 aerobridge airport, 1,285 km of better roads, 5,000 low-floor buses, 80 new metro destinations, 11 world-class sports venues and thousands of job opportunities. The EC served notice to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Cabinet Secretary and the Chief Secretary of Delhi, stating that the advertisement is a clear violation of the model code of conduct since it enumerates the achievements of the UPA Government. The EC has also asked the violators to pay from their own pockets.Election Commission pulls up Delhi, Centre over advertisement, The Hindu, 8 March 2009. Accessed 2009-06-16. Archived 2009-07-27.EC miffed over 2010 Games ad promoting UPA, CNN-IBN, 8 March 2009. Accessed 2009-06-16. Archived 2009-07-27. Congress MP and Bollywood actor Govinda is being investigated by the Mumbai Suburban District Collector for giving money to supporters outside his Mumbai house on 12 March 2009.http://ibnlive.in.com/news/govinda-does-a-mulayam-distributes-money/87492-37.html Govinda does a Mulayam, distributes money 12 March 2009 CNN-IBN 2009-03-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20090313232655/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/govinda-does-a-mulayam-distributes-money/87492-37.html 13 March 2009 dead Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy is being investigated for addressing an election meeting within a Government school's premises during a Class 10 public examination in the school. His son-in-law Anil Kumar, an evangelist, has a case filed against him for distributing religious pamphlets promoting Government programs in a church. Three others were arrested in the case and Anil Kumar is expected to be arrested as well.http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/02/stories/2009040253200100.htm YSR, son-in-law under EC scanner 2 April 2009 The Hindu 2009-04-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20090404055324/http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/02/stories/2009040253200100.htm 4 April 2009 deadhttp://www.newkerala.com/nkfullnews-1-15069.html EC reopens CM son-in-law case 2 April 2009 NewKerala.com 2009-04-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20090425233820/http://www.newkerala.com/nkfullnews-1-15069.html 25 April 2009 live Two Congress Lok Sabha candidates from Pilibhit and Shrawasti constituencies from Uttar Pradesh booked for violating the model code of conduct, the Congress nominee from Pilibhit B.M. Singh was registered for using as many as 98 four-wheelers in his procession, against the three authorized by the district authorities, whereas the party’s nominee from Shrawasti, V.K. Pandey, was booked for conducting a road show Tuesday without taking permission from the district authorities Two Congress candidates booked for poll conduct violation 25 March 2009 Janata Dal (United) JD(U) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi was booked by EC on 9 March 2009, for violating the model code of conduct which took effect from the day the election was announced by the EC. Manjhi attended an election meeting in Nalanda district using the official car made available to him for his position as the Social Welfare Minister in the Government of Bihar.Bihar minister booked for violating poll code, CNN-IBN, 10 March 2009 Bharatiya Janata Party An FIR was filed against BJP MP & spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy for holding a press conference at circuit house in Chhapra on 4 March 2009 in violation of the model of conduct.Rudy, Pappu booked for poll code violation, The Hindu, 9 March 2009 The EC directed the District Magistrate of Pilibhit to lodge a criminal case against the BJP's candidate Varun Gandhi for his allegedly inflammatory speech against non-Hindus made on 7 March 2009.http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ec-to-file-criminal-case-against-varun-gandhi/87895-37.html EC to file criminal case against Varun Gandhi 17 March 2009 CNN-IBN 2009-03-17 https://web.archive.org/web/20090320040611/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ec-to-file-criminal-case-against-varun-gandhi/87895-37.html 20 March 2009 dead This decision was taken after the EC had earlier issued a noticehttp://ibnlive.in.com/news/ec-seeks-report-on-varun-gandhi-communal-remarks/87745-37.html EC seeks report on Varun Gandhi 'communal' remarks 15 March 2009 CNN-IBN 2009-03-16 https://web.archive.org/web/20090316210547/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ec-seeks-report-on-varun-gandhi-communal-remarks/87745-37.html 16 March 2009 dead to Varun Gandhi and the BJP. After reviewing the incident, the EC found Varun Gandhi guilty of violating the model code of conduct by creating feeling of enmity and hatred between different communities. However, since Varun has not been convicted by a court of law, the EC can not bar him from contesting the election. Instead, they have recommended to his party, the BJP, to drop him from their list of candidates.http://ibnlive.in.com/news/scolded-slammed-poll-panels-order-against-varun/88380-37.html Poll panel's order against Varun 23 March 2009 CNN-IBN 2009-03-23 https://web.archive.org/web/20090324002240/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/scolded-slammed-poll-panels-order-against-varun/88380-37.html 24 March 2009 dead The BJP have since come out in support of Varun and have refused to drop Varun as a candidate, saying that the EC has no right to provide such a recommendation.http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bjp-backs-varun-asks-ec-to-not-advise/88406-37.html BJP backs Varun, asks EC to not advise 23 March 2009 CNN-IBN 2009-03-23 https://web.archive.org/web/20090324014259/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bjp-backs-varun-asks-ec-to-not-advise/88406-37.html 24 March 2009 dead He was then sent to judicial custodyMay 2011 and booked under the National Security Act by the government of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on charges of inciting communal tensions.http://ibnlive.in.com/news/varun-booked-under-nsa-bjp-up-in-arms/88989-37.html Varun booked under NSA, BJP up in arms 29 March 2009 CNN-IBN 2009-03-31 https://web.archive.org/web/20090330174605/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/varun-booked-under-nsa-bjp-up-in-arms/88989-37.html 30 March 2009 dead He was subsequently elected with the biggest majority of anyone of the four Gandhi family candidates running in the election, including his mother, aunt and first-cousin. Former Finance Minister of India Jaswant Singh was shown on tape on 31 March 2009 distributing money during an election meeting in Gajaria village in Barmer. Singh's son Manvendra Singh is contesting the election on a BJP ticket from Barmer. The District Collector of Barmer collected and presented the facts of the incident to the EC. Jaswant Singh has denied the charges of violating the model code of conduct, instead saying that it was the party tradition to help the poor and needy.http://ibnlive.in.com/news/jaswant-singh-caught-on-tape-bribing-voters/89154-37.html Jaswant Singh caught on tape bribing voters 31 March 2009 CNN-IBN 2009-04-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20090403070555/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/jaswant-singh-caught-on-tape-bribing-voters/89154-37.html 3 April 2009 deadhttp://ibnlive.in.com/news/poll-panel-to-look-at-jaswant-singhs-bribery-scandal/89205-37.html Poll panel to look at Jaswant Singh's bribery scandal 1 April 2009 CNN-IBN 2009-04-02 https://web.archive.org/web/20090501204609/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/poll-panel-to-look-at-jaswant-singhs-bribery-scandal/89205-37.html 1 May 2009 dead Former BJP Lok Sabha MP Ananth Kumar Hegde became the second BJP leader of this election to be reported for making a hate speech against a particular community. During an election rally at Karwar, Kumar allegedly threatened to prevent Muslims from celebrating religious festivals after cautioning the people against activities of Islamist groups. Karnataka's Chief Electoral Officer has sent a report on this incident along with a CD of Kumar's speech to the CEC.http://ibnlive.in.com/news/after-varun-another-bjp-leader-in-hate-speech-row/89206-37.html After Varun, another BJP leader in hate speech row 1 April 2009 CNN-IBN 2009-04-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20090403144415/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/after-varun-another-bjp-leader-in-hate-speech-row/89206-37.html 3 April 2009 dead Samajwadi Party SP's chief Mulayam Singh Yadav was issued a notice on 12 March 2009, by the EC for allegedly bribing voters during an election rally on 11 March in his native village of Safai in Etawah Lok Sabha constituency. The party workers were seen distributing Rs. 100 notes to all those who attended the rally. The party claims that the money was being given away as a gift to the people of the village and that the gathering was to celebrate the festival of Holi and was not a political rally.http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mulayams-cash-distribution-under-ec-scanner/87498-37.html Mulayam's 'cash distribution' under EC scanner 12 March 2009 CNN-IBN 2009-03-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20090316214347/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mulayams-cash-distribution-under-ec-scanner/87498-37.html 16 March 2009 deadhttp://ibnlive.in.com/news/amar-defends-mulayam-walks-out-of-tv-show/87516-37.html Amar defends Mulayam, walks out of TV show 13 March 2009 CNN-IBN 2009-03-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20090313232618/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/amar-defends-mulayam-walks-out-of-tv-show/87516-37.html 13 March 2009 dead On 31 March 2009, the EC decided not to proceed on this case and no action will be taken against either Mulayam Singh Yadav or the party.http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ec-shuns-action-against-mulayam-over-holi-bribe/89148-37.html EC shuns action against Mulayam over Holi 'bribe' 1 April 2009 CNN-IBN 2009-04-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20090403121429/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ec-shuns-action-against-mulayam-over-holi-bribe/89148-37.html 3 April 2009 dead The EC on 30 March 2009 also served notice to Mulayam Singh Yadav for his alleged threats against Ministhy Dileep, the District Magistrate of Mainpuri. Mulayam is expected to contest the election from Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency.http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mulayamdm-spat-case-ec-serves-notice-to-sp-chief/89064-37.html Mulayam-DM spat case: EC serves notice to SP chief 30 March 2009 CNN-IBN 2009-03-31 https://web.archive.org/web/20090401001246/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mulayamdm-spat-case-ec-serves-notice-to-sp-chief/89064-37.html 1 April 2009 dead Jaya Prada, the Samajwadi Party candidate in Rampur was issued a notice by the Election Commission on 26 April 2009, for violating the code of conduct by distributing bindis to women in Rampur's Swar locality.Jayaprada issued notice for violating poll code References Category:Indian general election campaigns Category:2009 Indian general election Category:Political controversies in India