ECI issues notice to BJD over use of party symbol in government advertisements

According to ECI, it has received complaints that the party’s electoral symbol was being displayed and promoted through various government-sponsored advertisements in leading Odia newspapers, TV channels, state transport buses, and hoardings in different cities

Published on: Feb 29, 2024, 13:30:50 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Bhubaneshwar: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a notice to the Odisha government and the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) over the alleged use of the party symbol in advertisements using public funds, officials aware of the matter said on Wednesday.

The election commission has asked the chief secretary of Odisha and the BJD’s general secretary to file responses by Saturday (March 2) over the use of the party’s “conch” symbol in state government advertisements, said officials.

The ECI noted that the activity violates its instructions dated October 7, 2016, which state, “The commission is of the view that utilising public funds/public places for promoting any political party or propagating its election symbol would be antithetical to the concept of a free and fair election and the principle of a level playing field for all stakeholders,” the notice reads.

“Accordingly, the commission has directed that no political party shall henceforth either use or allow the use of any public funds, public place, or government machinery for carrying out any activity that would amount to an advertisement for the party or propagating the election symbol allotted to the party,” it further reads.

According to ECI, it has received complaints that the party’s electoral symbol was being displayed and promoted through various government-sponsored advertisements in leading Odia newspapers, TV channels, state transport buses, and hoardings in different cities.

A Bharatiya Janata Party leader in January moved the Delhi high court seeking action against the BJD and the Odisha government for using its party symbol ‘conch’ while promoting the government’s welfare schemes in advertisements.

BJD leaders did not comment on the ECI notice.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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