Election Commission Orders Takedown of BJP Jharkhand Social Media Post
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday instructed the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Jharkhand to remove a social media video posted by the BJP’s state unit, citing a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) ahead of the November 20 assembly elections.
The directive came after complaints from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and its ally Congress, who described the video as “misleading and divisive.” The 54-second video depicted Muslim individuals allegedly taking over a Hindu household that had supported JMM, accusing the party of enabling such actions.
ECI Orders Immediate Action
Taking swift action, the ECI directed the Jharkhand CEO to notify social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Meta to remove the video under Section 79(3)(b) of the IT Act. The Commission also ordered the CEO to issue a notice to BJP Jharkhand for violating MCC provisions and to submit an action-taken report.
“Immediate action must be taken to ensure the post’s removal, and the BJP Jharkhand unit must be served a notice to explain the alleged violation,” read the ECI’s communication.
Jharkhand CEO K Ravi Kumar confirmed that a takedown notice had been sent to X at 11 a.m. on Sunday, with an FIR also filed before the ECI issued its order. A similar notice to Meta is reportedly in progress, according to state social media monitoring cell nodal officer S Karthik.
Allegations and Political Reactions
The video, shared on November 16 by BJP Jharkhand’s official handles, showed a poster resembling Chief Minister Hemant Soren with text claiming, “We will change the composition of all of Jharkhand.” The Congress and JMM accused the post of spreading hate speech, misinformation, and defamatory content designed to sway voters.
The JMM called the video “rife with baseless allegations and falsehoods” aimed at undermining the democratic process. The Congress echoed similar concerns, alleging that the post invoked religious identity to appeal for votes, violating the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
The incident highlights growing tensions in the state as political parties gear up for the crucial assembly elections. Authorities have yet to designate a Section 79(3)(b) officer for Jharkhand, complicating enforcement of the IT Act.
