Election Commission: Will act if ads not certified

The chief electoral officer Assam has issued a fresh intimation to newspapers to only publish approved or pre-certified content of the advertisements of the political parties following the ruling Congress party’s full-page ad featuring Qutubuddin Ansari, the man who became the face of the 2002 Gujarat riots begging mercy with folded hands.

Though the Congress, which is reiterating its confidence and faith in secular values, is silent over the idea of highlighting memories of Gujarat riots in the last leg of polling, the advertisement asked voters, “Does Mr Modi’s Gujarat always mean development Do you want Assam to be a Gujarat of this kind ”

The advertisement has assumed significance as Lower Assam districts, dominated by Muslim voters, are going to polls on Monday and the advertisement was widely published a day before the electioneering came to an end. Assam BJP treasurer Rajkumar Sarma attributes it as an attempt to polarise the Muslim voters by creating a fear psychosis among them. The EC has now asked parties and individuals not to put out any kind of “hate advertisements”. It said, “Such advertisements in the last stage vitiates the election... The affected candidate or party will not have any opportunity to provide clarifications in such cases.” The Congress has projected itself as “the sole protector of Muslims”, with Mr Gogoi saying in his concluding speech at Guwahati, “I will personally protect each and every legal Muslim migrant.” It is significant that a visible anti-establishment wave has forced the ruling Congress party to go back to its traditional vote bank of Muslim voters, which is said to have been turning towards AIUDF since 2006.

At least 33 of the 61 seats going to the polls on Monday have an overwhelming Muslim majority.