Election Commission bars Yogi Adityanath and Mayawati from campaigning

On Monday, 15 April, the Election Commission (EC) barred BSP chief Mayawati and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath from campaigning in the Lok Sabha election for 48 hours and 72 hours respectively, for breaching the Model Code of Conduct through objectionable statements in their speeches. The order came into force at 6 am on Tuesday, 16 April.

The speeches in question

On 9 April, Adityanath had stirred controversy by calling the Muslim League a “green virus” and suggesting that Hindu and Muslim voters were in an “Ali-Bajrang Bali” contest. Hitting back, Mayawati said on 13 April at a joint rally with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in Badaun that both Ali and Bajrang Bali were on the alliance’s side. She said the alliance wanted both, especially Bajrang Bali, because he belonged to the Dalit community, citing Adityanath’s own description of him as a forest dweller and a Dalit.

The EC had earlier sent notices to both leaders over speeches delivered at rallies in Deoband on 7 and 9 April respectively, saying they violated the Model Code of Conduct.

Supreme Court steps in

Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Court took note of the alleged hate speeches by the two leaders and asked the EC what action it had taken so far. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi summoned an EC representative for Tuesday and agreed to examine the commission’s argument that its legal powers to deal with hate speeches during campaigns were limited.

The bench noted the EC’s submission that it could only issue a notice, then an advisory, and finally file a complaint against a politician who breaches the code with speeches based on caste or religion. “The EC says they are toothless,” the bench remarked.

What happened next

The BJP won 303 of 543 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, counted on 23 May 2019.

See also: Bahujan Samaj Party

Originally published on 15 April 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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