The Election Commission of India (ECI) is currently scrutinizing contentious terms such as “vote jihad” that were employed by certain political parties during their campaigns in the recent Maharashtra assembly elections, according to an official statement released on Wednesday.
In an exclusive conversation with PTI, Dr Kiran Kulkarni, Maharashtra Additional Chief Electoral Officer, revealed that over 650 instances of electoral code violations were documented during the state polls, emphasizing that enforcement agencies would ensure these cases reach their proper conclusion.
Addressing the “vote jihad” controversy, he explained, “The ECI is conducting a thorough analysis of its implications across multiple domains – legal, linguistic, and social – before determining the next steps…We must exercise extreme caution with expressions like ‘vote jihad’ as they carry significant implications.”
“This newly emerged phrase requires detailed examination. We must consider various aspects including legal, linguistic, social, and religious dimensions. The Chief Electoral Officer, myself, and other ECI officials are carefully evaluating this matter, and we’ll reach an appropriate decision after a comprehensive review of all these elements,” he elaborated.
When questioned about the impact of such controversial terminology on electoral discourse, Kulkarni advised against rushing to conclusions.
“This requires a methodical, long-term approach. We need to carefully define and analyze words and their contextual references. Given the absence of a definitive legal framework for emerging terminology, such matters demand careful handling, considering their potential ramifications,” he stated.
The Maharashtra legislative assembly elections, comprising 288 seats, took place on November 20, with vote counting conducted three days later. The electoral code of conduct was implemented statewide from October 15.
Kulkarni reported that 659 cases of election code violations were registered statewide, marking a substantial increase from the 366 cases documented during the earlier Lok Sabha elections this year.
“Our investigative teams achieved remarkable success with the Lok Sabha cases, with 300 chargesheets already submitted to courts,” he noted.
Regarding the assembly election cases, he stated, “We’re maintaining vigilant follow-up. Our enforcement teams are conducting investigations, and all chargesheets will be filed in courts to ensure proper case resolution.” He added that the timeline for proceedings depends on judicial processes.
“These matters fall under criminal jurisdiction and follow established procedures. Courts treat election-related offenses with utmost seriousness, and we’re requesting expedited processing,” he explained.
Addressing hate speech complaints, Kulkarni clarified that such cases fall under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
“Verified complaints resulted in cases filed under appropriate legal provisions. However, it’s important to note that the model code of conduct represents a consensual guideline supported by various laws rather than a law itself,” he emphasized.
Kulkarni firmly rejected allegations of booth capturing during the elections, citing Maharashtra’s sophisticated electoral mechanisms.
“Maharashtra has never experienced booth capturing incidents. With Electronic Voting Machines in place, such attempts are futile due to their robust security features and data retrieval capabilities. While six minor disruptions occurred during voting, normal polling operations resumed within an hour,” he explained, noting that one EVM was replaced to address concerns.