Congress calls for cancellation of ‘Run for Viksit Bharat’, cites poll code violation

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Devender Yadav has written to the Election Commission seeking cancellation of ‘Run for Viksit Bharat’, which he says is a violation of the model code of conduct. The event is scheduled for Wednesday.

Dictated by Delhi University in cooperation with the Viksit Bharat Ambassador Club, the event would promote the BJP’s ‘Viksit Bharat’ campaign and is expected to bring together eminent personalities, including badminton champion Saina Nehwal, actor Raj Kumar Rao and Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Yogesh. Singh.

Learn more

With 5,000 students expectedYadav says the event, attended by prominent BJP figure Kuljeet Chahal, is clearly an electoral advantage for the BJP, thus demanding its immediate cancellation.

Devender Yadav said the fact that 5,000 students from different colleges are expected to participate in the race, under the name ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’, is a flagship campaign of the ruling BJP-led Centre.

BJP leader Kuljeet Chahal was present at a meeting organized to outline preparations for the race. He claimed that Chahal, as the national organizer of the NaMo app, a personal online interface of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was clear evidence that it would be a political broadcast aimed at soliciting support for the BJP. It should be scrapped.

Devender Yadav also said that Dayal Singh College had also made a poster related to the Viksit Bharat Run with a photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which is also a blatant violation of the model code of conduct.

Highlighting the “don’ts” in the model code of conduct, Yadav wrote that the Election Commission’s notification states: “No official work should be mixed with campaigning/campaigning.” Therefore, the Election Commission should direct Delhi University to immediately cancel this scheduled poll.