The Election Commission on Wednesday asked the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Karnataka to take immediate action on complaint filed by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) against Union Minister of State and BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje for alleged violation of the violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

“I am directed to forward herewith a copy of complaint dated 20th March received from R S Bharathi, Organization Secretary, DMK of alleged violation of MCC. You are directed to ensure that immediate appropriate action may be taken on the complaint in accordance with MCC,” read the letter issued by poll panel’s Under Secretary Awadesh Kumar Sinha to the CEO, Karnataka.

The letter added, “It is also requested that a compliance report may be furnished to the Commission within 48 hours.”

Bharathi in the complaint wrote, “On 19th March, BJP leader and Union Minister for State Shobha Karandlaje, while addressing reporters in Nagarathpete, Central Bengaluru, Karnataka made a statement alleging that the people of Tamil Nadu were behind the Rameshwaram café blast, which took place on 1st March 1 in Bengaluru.”

“Pertinently, an investigation in the blast case is currently underway, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has so far not been able to identify the culprit behind the blast. Despite the same, the Minister has made the ‘baseless’ accusation that the bomb was planted by people from Tamil Nadu,” the DMK leader said.

Bharathi further said, “The statement attempts to promote feelings of enmity and hatred between the people of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It generalizes the people of Tamil Nadu as extremists , and seeks to create hostility and enmity between two communities. The said statement is a blatant violation of MCC.

Meanwhile, the poll panel directed the Chief Secretaries and Chief Electoral Officers of all States and Union Territories to take immediate action for enforcement of MCC.

Citing that it has been receiving complaints from various quarters alleging that unauthorised political advertisements are still being displayed in many places across the country, the poll panel said, “The Commission has taken a serious note of the non-compliance/partial-compliance of its instructions and hereby directs all State/UT Governments to immediately remove all unauthorised political advertisements and ensure full compliance of its aforesaid instructions.”

A compliance report in this regard must be furnished to the Commission till 5:00 PM on 21st March, it added.