[Marxistindia] Press Release

[news from the cpi(m)]

April 19, 2026

 

Press Release

 

 

The Prime Minister has misused the Doordarshan for political messaging
through his broadcast on April 18, 2026, while the Model Code of Conduct is
in force and elections to the state assemblies of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal
are nearing. Usage of the public broadcaster for political messaging during
elections constitutes a violation of the MCC.

 

The CPI(M) has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India and
has sought initiation of proceedings against the PM and others for this
violation.

 

Attached is the letter sent to the ECI by General Secretary M.A Baby.

 

 

Muralidharan

(For CPI(M) Central Committee Office)

 

 

The Chief Election Commissioner

Election Commission of India

Nirvachan Sadan

New Delhi 110 001

 

Sir,

 

Subject: Complaint Regarding Violation of Model Code of Conduct - Misuse of
Public Broadcaster Doordarshan for Partisan Political Speech

 

This is to bring to your urgent attention a serious violation of the Model
Code of Conduct (MCC) by the Prime Minister of India, arising from the
misuse of the public broadcaster, Doordarshan, to deliver a political
speech. 

 

The MCC is in force given the impending elections to the legislatures of
Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. However, even during the subsistence of the MCC
the Prime Minister addressed the nation on April 18, 2026. The content,
tone, and messaging of the address can by no stretch of imagination be
termed as governmental communication. It was blatantly political, targeting
the opposition parties - naming many of them - and seeking to influence
public opinion, including the voters of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, in
favour of the ruling party. 

 

This constitutes a flagrant breach of the MCC provision laid down in Section
4 under the heading "Party in Power" which states:

 

"Issue of advertisement at the cost of public exchequer in the newspapers
and other media and the misuse of official mass media during the election
period for partisan coverage of political news and publicity regarding
achievements with a view to furthering the prospects of the party in power
shall be scrupulously avoided."

(Ref:  <https://www.eci.gov.in/mcc/> https://www.eci.gov.in/mcc/)

 

Usage of a public broadcaster as a platform for political messaging during
an election by the incumbent Prime Minister creates an uneven playing field
and undermines the principle of free and fair elections, which is the
cornerstone of our parliamentary democratic framework.

 

Under these circumstances, we urge upon the Election Commission to take
cognisance of this violation and urgently initiate appropriate proceedings
against the Prime Minister and concerned authorities.

 

 

Yours truly

 

 

M. A. Baby

(General Secretary)

 

 

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