Thread by @SaketGokhale

A story of how the Election Commission is shockingly & openly protecting BJP leader Kapil Mishra 👇

BJP's Kapil Mishra furnished false info on his election affidavits in 2015 & 2020.

On 16 Jun, ECI said in a press note that it will now take cognizance of such complaints.

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Earlier, complainants had to go to court for complaints about candidates falsifying affidavits under section 125A of the Representation of People Act, 1951.

On 16th June, with a press note, the ECI said it had changed its policy & will now take cognizance itself.

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According to the new policy in this press note ECI/PN/42/2020, I filed a complaint with the ECI on 22nd June against Kapil Mishra.

This complaint was forwarded to the Returning Officer who shockingly (& against the new ECI policy) said that I would have to go to court.

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I wrote about this to Election Commission again, pointed out their own circular, & said that cognizance will have to be taken by ECI itself without needing to go to court.

The ECI replied & said they're taking this issue up immediately with Returning Officer.

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Surprise: Returning Officer AGAIN closed the complaint 2 days ago with the SAME EXCUSE completely disregarding the policy of the ECI.

Are your rules only on paper @SpokespersonECI or are they even enforced?

Why is the RO protecting a BJP candidate?

We'd like to know

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After hiring the BJP IT cell in Maharashtra & appointing BJP-affiliated companies in Delhi for their social media, the ECI has cast massive aspersions on its own independence.

Why isn't cognizance of complaint against BJP's Kapil Mishra being taken by rules, @SpokespersonECI?