The Election Commission of India has given its approval for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s radio broadcast “Mann Ki Baat” on Sunday, with a condition that his address to the public should not violate the Model Code of Conduct in place for the coming Assembly elections in four States and a Union Territory. The Model Code of Conduct came into force on March 4 when the ECI announced the schedule for elections.
Elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will be held on May 16, and beginning April 4 in West Bengal. Assam will go to the polls in two phases on April 4 and 11.
Owing to the Model Code, it is learnt that the Information and Broadcasting Ministry had approached the ECI seeking clearance for the PM’s monthly address. Accordingly, the Commission gave a go-ahead on Wednesday, with instructions that nothing should be said in the programme that influences the voters. The Opposition parties had earlier approached the Commission raising suspicion that the programme could be used to influence voters.
