New Delhi: The Congress has decided to approach the Supreme Court against the order of the Election Commission of India to revoke the ‘star campaigner’ status of Madhya Pradesh former Chief Minister and Kamal Nath.
Senior lawyer and Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha tweeted: “Order of ECI removing Kamal Nath ji from the list of star campaigners two days before the campaign closure on Nov 1 is completely undemocratic. (The order was) given without notice to Kamal Nath andCongress party. We are approaching the Supreme Court to intervene and save democracy.”
Kamal Nath called the action of ECI as an attempt to muzzle his and Congress’s voice. “The people will decide now. This is an attempt to stop, suppress my voice. (An attempt) to muzzle the voice of Congress. Truth can be troubled but not defeated. People will support the truth,” he said.
In an order issued on Friday, the Commission said, “…for repeated violation of Model Code of Conduct and for completely disregarding the advisory issued to him, the Commission hereby revokes the status of leader of political party (Star Campaigner) of Kamal Nath, Ex-Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh, with immediate effect for the current Bye-elections of Legislative Assembly of Madhya Pradesh.”
The Election Commission said no permission will be granted by authorities to Kamal Nath as a star campaigner.