Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray criticized the Election Commission of India on Thursday, accusing it of double standards in favor of the BJP regarding the enforcement of the model code of conduct. Thackeray pointed to historical events, noting that in 1987, his father Balasaheb Thackeray faced a six-year ban on voting for using expressions like “garv se kaho hum Hindu hai” and “mandir wahi banayenge.”
Drawing parallels to recent instances during election campaigns, Thackeray highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for voters to “say Bajrangbali ki jai while voting” in Karnataka and Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement in Madhya Pradesh that “if you vote for the BJP, you will not be charged for going to Ayodhya.”
Thackeray questioned whether the Election Commission had altered its rules, stating, “Has the Election Commission changed rules and the Bharatiya Janata Party knows about it and we don’t? The Election Commission should clarify whether what happened in 1987 was as per the rules or what is happening today is as per the rules. Balasaheb’s use of these words was termed as corrupt practices by the EC.”
Expressing concern about a perceived relaxation of the model code of conduct, Thackeray said, “We feel the model code of conduct has been relaxed (this time around). If that is the case, we should know about it.”
Using cricket terminology, he added, “Giving the BJP a free hit and dismissing us as a hit wicket does not amount to holding free and fair elections.”
The Sena (UBT) also submitted a letter to the Election Commission, accusing it of intriguing yet understandable double standards. The letter stated, “The double standards applied by the Election Commission are intriguing, yet understandable, given the fact that the commission is publicly perceived to be in alignment with whatever the BJP does during elections and even otherwise.”
