In a decisive move, the Election Commission (EC) has instructed the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to cease the dissemination of a letter purportedly from Prime Minister Narendra Modi via the account "Viksit Bharat Sampark" on WhatsApp. The directive, issued on Thursday, mandates an immediate halt to the distribution of these messages.
The EC, in a letter addressed to the Secretary of MeitY, has demanded a compliance report without delay. The Ministry had previously notified the EC on March 16 that the WhatsApp messages in question were dispatched on March 15, prior to the official announcement of elections.
Despite the Ministry's explanation citing technical constraints for potential delayed deliveries, the EC has received numerous complaints regarding the continued receipt of these messages on citizens' phones. Consequently, the EC has directed MeitY to ensure that no further transmission of WhatsApp messages occurs during the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) period.
The issue was first raised by the Trinamool Congress on March 18, asserting that the distribution of the messages post-MCC enforcement violates the Model Code of Conduct. TMC MP Saket Gokhale, in a letter to MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan, questioned the source database used for disseminating the letter, particularly as users outside India reported receiving it.
Gokhale criticized the content of the message, branding it as "open and unabashed propaganda and marketing for Modi & the BJP." He highlighted that a significant portion of the messages reached recipients after the MCC came into effect, indicating a breach of electoral protocols.
The EC's intervention underscores the significance of maintaining electoral integrity and adherence to regulations, particularly in the realm of digital communication, during the crucial election period.