The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Jharkhand has withdrawn a contentious video advertisement from its social media platforms following a directive from the Election Commission of India (ECI). The ad, accused of breaching the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during the state’s assembly elections, sparked complaints from rival parties and swift intervention by the electoral watchdog.
The controversy began with a November 16 post on the BJP Jharkhand’s social media account. The video, titled “Poore Jharkhand ka kaya palat kar denge” (Complete Transformation of Jharkhand), portrayed a house adorned with a Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) banner and a poster resembling Chief Minister Hemant Soren. It allegedly depicted a scenario involving members of a specific community forcibly entering the home to claim residence. Critics from the Indian National Congress (INC) and the JMM labeled the video “communal, misleading, and malicious.”
Responding to formal complaints, the ECI reviewed the content and, in a November 17 letter, directed Jharkhand’s Chief Electoral Officer to ensure the removal of the video. The Commission cited an apparent violation of the MCC and invoked provisions under the Information Technology Act, 2000, requiring swift takedown of unlawful online content.
The BJP complied with the ECI’s instructions, removing the post while facing demands for a detailed explanation of the alleged breach.
This incident highlights the intense scrutiny political parties face during Jharkhand’s election season, where social media has become a battleground. With polling phases scheduled on November 13 and 20 and results to be declared on November 23, the stakes are high, and every move by the parties is under the scanner.
