Did PM Modi Breach Election Rules? Left Parties Demand Action from Election Commission

Leftist parties have formally approached the Chief Election Commissioner, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent address violated the Model Code of Conduct. They claim the speech, delivered via public broadcasting channels, was politically charged and aimed at influencing voters in key states ahead of elections. The leaders are urging the Election Commission to take immediate action against the Prime Minister for this alleged misuse of state resources. This controversy arises in the wake of the rejection of a significant women's reservation bill in Parliament, further intensifying the political landscape as elections approach.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 19, 2026, 18:52 IST

Allegations Against PM Modi's Recent Address

New Delhi: Leaders from leftist parties have reached out to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent speech to the nation breached the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for elections, and they are calling for action against him.

CPI(M) General Secretary MA Baby and CPI Rajya Sabha MP P Sandosh Kumar sent separate letters to the head of the election commission, accusing the Prime Minister of misusing the public broadcaster to sway public opinion in states where elections are imminent.

In his correspondence, Baby described the Prime Minister's actions as a "serious violation" of the MCC, highlighting the inappropriate use of Doordarshan for a political address.

He asserted that the nature, tone, and content of the speech could not be classified as governmental communication.

Baby pointed out that the address was overtly political, targeting opposition parties by name and attempting to influence voters in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal in favor of the ruling party.

He characterized this as a "flagrant breach" of the MCC's provisions outlined in Section 4 regarding the "Party in Power."

According to him, utilizing a public broadcaster for political messaging during an election creates an uneven playing field and undermines the fundamental principle of free and fair elections, which is essential to our parliamentary democracy.

He urged the Election Commission to recognize this violation and take immediate action against the Prime Minister and relevant authorities.

CPI's P Sandosh Kumar echoed these sentiments in his letter, stating that the Prime Minister's address, made while the MCC was active in five states, was inherently political and contained biased claims and selective narratives aimed at shaping public opinion on contentious issues.

He argued that broadcasting the address on public platforms like Doordarshan and Sansad TV represented a misuse of state resources, asserting that using publicly funded channels for a political speech is a serious violation of electoral standards.

Kumar warned that such actions could compromise the level playing field that the Election Commission is responsible for maintaining during elections.

He cautioned that inaction could diminish public trust in the Election Commission's impartiality and suggest "institutional complicity."

Kumar called for the Election Commission to take "swift and genuine action," investigate the situation, and ensure accountability to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.

During his address, the Prime Minister criticized the Congress party and its allies for opposing the women's reservation bill, accusing them of committing the "sin of foeticide" and warning of repercussions from women voters.

Modi expressed regret to women, stating that while the government may have lost the vote, it remains committed to empowering women.

This speech followed the Lower House of Parliament's rejection of a Constitution Amendment Bill aimed at increasing Lok Sabha and assembly seats and implementing a 33% reservation for women in legislatures under the Nari Shakti Vandhan Adhiniyam.