Delhi Chief Minister Atishi was booked for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), just a day before the national capital heads to the polls for the Assembly elections. The Election Commission of India (ECI) also pushed back against accusations made by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), setting the stage for a heated pre-election clash.
The FIR was registered against Atishi, AAP’s candidate from Kalkaji, for reportedly violating MCC guidelines and obstructing public servants in the line of duty, according to an official statement.
Delhi Police confirmed the FIR was filed on Tuesday at Govindpuri police station. According to the police, Atishi was present on Fateh Singh Marg along with a crowd of 50-70 supporters and 10 vehicles, violating MCC restrictions. Officers reportedly instructed the group to vacate the area, but Atishi and her supporters allegedly obstructed their efforts.
“We have registered an FIR under various sections, and further investigation is underway,” a senior police officer told PTI.
Atishi Hits Back at EC
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Atishi criticized the Election Commission for what she described as selective action. “The Election Commission is also amazing,” she wrote in Hindi. “BJP candidate Ramesh Bidhuri’s family members are openly violating the code of conduct, but no action is being taken against them. I filed a complaint, called the police, and @ECISVEEP, and instead, a case was registered against me!”
She further accused Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar of undermining the electoral process, adding, “Rajiv Kumar ji, just how much will you ruin the electoral process?”
EC Responds to AAP’s Allegations
The Election Commission, in a rare public statement, countered AAP’s accusations of bias. It emphasized that the EC is a three-member body, collectively making decisions, and dismissed claims suggesting it operates as a single-member entity.
In its statement, the Commission said, “The three-member Commission collectively noted repeated deliberate pressure tactics to malign ECI in Delhi elections, as if it is a single-member body. It has decided to exercise constitutional restraint, absorb such outbursts stoically, and not be swayed by baseless insinuations.”
The poll authority underscored its commitment to impartiality, maintaining that it would not be deterred by political accusations during the electoral process.
AAP leaders, including party convenor Arvind Kejriwal, have also alleged bias on the part of the EC, claiming the poll authority has been ignoring violations of the MCC by BJP candidates. Kejriwal accused Rajiv Kumar of favoring the BJP, suggesting the Election Commissioner was eyeing a post-retirement position.
Rajiv Kumar is set to retire on February 18, upon reaching the age of 65. Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu are the other election commissioners currently serving in the ECI.
Kejriwal’s remarks followed Atishi’s allegations, adding fuel to the ongoing confrontation between the AAP and the Election Commission in the final stretch of the election campaign.
As Delhi prepares to vote, the tensions between AAP and the Election Commission have escalated into a full-blown controversy. While Atishi and her party accuse the EC of partisan behavior, the Commission has stood firm, reiterating its neutrality and commitment to conducting free and fair elections. The coming days will reveal how this confrontation impacts voter sentiment and the overall electoral process in the national capital.