Mumbai: Clearing the air regarding the status of Prime Minsiter's Mann Ki Baat in context of the Bihar Pollls, the Electoral Commission on Friday said that it had no objections to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's radio show on Sunday. ,
The clarification comes a couple of days after the opposition demanded a ban on the radio show arguing that it appeared to be a lobbying ground for the upcoming elections. But the election commission had made it clear that there could be no “blanket ban” on the programme, and that it can take “cognisance” of any such demand only if it finds that the contents violated the model code imposed ahead of the Assembly elections in the state.
The Congress and its allies had approached the Election Commission to seek a ban on the PM’s radio talk show, alleging that it violated the model code. A delegation of the three-party alliance comprising the JD(U), RJD and the Congress met the commission on Wednesday with the plea to stop the broadcast.
“Permitting the PM to organise the Mann ki Baat programme would be giving a completely unfair advantage to the BJP and will upset the level-playing field..., the alliance members said in their petition. While the poll watchdog is yet to firm up its decision, EC sources indicated that no “blanket ban” can be imposed on the programme.
