Congress calls EC clean chit to Modi over Wardha speech a ‘Modi Code of Conduct’

The Congress on Wednesday said it was disappointed with the Election Commission’s decision to clear Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a speech he made in Wardha, Maharashtra, arguing that the model code of conduct had in effect become a “Modi Code of Conduct”.

The EC decision

The Commission gave the Prime Minister a clean chit on Tuesday. In the Wardha speech, delivered at a rally on April 1, Modi had attacked Congress president Rahul Gandhi for choosing to stand from Wayanad in Kerala, a seat he suggested had a large share of minority voters. Gandhi is also a candidate from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.

According to reports, Modi told the rally that the Congress had insulted Hindus, that voters had decided to punish it, and that its leaders were now afraid to contest from constituencies where the majority community dominated, and were therefore seeking refuge where the majority was in a minority.

An EC spokesperson said the matter had been examined in detail against the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct, the Representation of the People Act and a report from Maharashtra’s Chief Electoral Officer, and that the Commission had found no violation.

Congress reaction

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala responded on Twitter, saying the Prime Minister had been let off despite what he called a flagrant breach of Article 324 and the code. “It is now crystal clear that MCC has become ‘Modi Code of Conduct’!” he wrote. He added that the country could not have one set of laws for Modi and another for everyone else.

The party had earlier petitioned the Commission seeking action over what it described as a divisive speech, and had accused the Prime Minister of making hateful and objectionable remarks about Gandhi.

See also: Indian National Congress and more election news.

Originally published on 1 May 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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