The EC issued the order in response to a clarification sought by the I&B Ministry on the issue on September 15. The Commission said it also has no objection to pre-broadcast publicity through different channels of AIR and Doordarshan. “...the Commission has no objection to the broadcast of the programme ‘Mann ki Baat’ on All India Radio (AIR) on September 20, 2015 and the pre-broadcast publicity through different channels of AIR and Doordarshan subject to the condition that nothing be said therein that may be construed as inducement to voters or as having any impact in election-bound state of Bihar where the Model Code of Conduct is in place from September 9 to November 12, 2015,” said EC’s Principal Secretary K Ajaya Kumar in the order addressed to I&B Ministry Special Secretary JS Mathur.
The Commission has thus rejected a demand made by <g data-gr-id="31">anti-BJP</g> grand alliance that the PM’s programme be suspended till the elections in Bihar are over.
Representatives of the grand alliance, including Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Janata Dal-United (JD-
U), had on Wednesday approached the EC seeking the suspension of the programme till polls are over in the state, raising doubts that it might be used it to influence voters.
Meanwhile, the EC has warned the Railway Ministry against giving special concessions for special trains being run to and fro Bihar till the poll code is in force.
The Commission, responding to complaints made by Opposition leaders that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is using state machinery to seek political gains in Bihar, asked the chairman of Railway Board to ensure that “no special concessions be allowed” for any special train “leaving from any station in Bihar or coming to any station in Bihar from outside the state without prior permission” of the poll watchdog.
It said the permission be sought till the period of the model code from September 9 to November 12.
It also sought details of the movement of special trains “even after” the enforcement of the model code.
Congress-RJD-JD(U) combine on Monday complained to the EC about the Centre’s “illegal use” of government machinery and loss to exchequer on account of unwarranted favour to BJP workers by deploying special trains through Railway Ministry to ferry them.