Congress asks EC to bar Modi from campaigning over remarks on Rajiv Gandhi

The Congress approached the Election Commission on Monday, 6 May, seeking action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including a ban on his campaigning, over his remarks about former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Abhishek Singhvi, Salman Khurshid and Rajiv Shukla were part of a delegation that met the Election Commissioners and called the remarks uncultured, unlawful and contrary to Indian traditions.

The complaint

Modi made the comments at an election rally in Uttar Pradesh on 4 May, referring to the way the life of Rajiv Gandhi, father of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, had ended. Singhvi told reporters the party wanted an immediate bar on the Prime Minister’s campaign, saying this mattered for the Commission’s own credibility since it had earlier left complaints pending for more than 30 days. He said the Congress had filed 11 complaints with the EC without action, despite going to the Supreme Court.

With roughly a fortnight of polling left, he said, Modi should get 24 hours’ notice and action should follow within 48 hours. He also noted that a petition filed against Rajiv Gandhi after some 14 years had been dismissed by the Supreme Court on 2 November 2018.

In its memorandum the party sought strictures against Modi for derogatory remarks about the late leader, and reminded the Commission of its powers under Article 324 of the Constitution, alleging that the campaign had seen a record number of lapses by a sitting Prime Minister.

BJP response

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the Congress president could call an honest Prime Minister a “chor” (thief) without any code stopping him, yet when Modi called the Congress legacy corrupt, the party ran to the EC. “Are there two Model Codes of Conduct,” he asked on Twitter.

Other reactions

Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said the remarks showed the BJP was in “electoral depression” and its campaign had hit a dead end. He contrasted the 2014 slogan ‘Har-Har Modi, Ghar-Ghar Modi’ with what he said was the 2019 mood of ‘Bye-Bye Modi’. On violence in West Bengal, he said the Congress condemned violence anywhere and urged the EC and central forces to ensure people could vote without fear.

See also: Indian National Congress.

Originally published on 7 May 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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