Election Commission Notice to Railways, Aviation Ministries for tickets carrying pictures of PM Modi

Guwahati, March 27, 2019:

We are heading towards the Lok Sabha elections, but the banners and posters of the political parties, and especially the ruling BJP party, are still being seen everywhere. The Election Commission of India has now issued a show cause notice to the Railways and Civil Aviation ministries as pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi can still be seen on Air India passes and rail tickets, in a violation of the Model Code of Conduct, which came into effect on March 10 when the Election Commission announced a schedule for the Lok Sabha elections.

Sources in the Election Commission have said the railways and Air India have violated the model code of conduct and referred to clause VII of the code which states that “issue of advertisement at the cost of public exchequer ... regarding achievements with a view to furthering the prospects of the party in power shall be scrupulously avoided”.

A complaint had been forwarded to the Commission by the Election Commission by the rival Trinamool Congress party which had alleged that the railway tickets contained information about Government schemes.

A boarding pass issued by Air India had pictures of PM Modi and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. Meanwhile, Air India has claimed that the photographs were part of advertisement from third parties.