File photo of Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate
is likely to face the Election Commission's disapproval for his comment against rival Congress during a rally in Chhattisgarh last week, where he referred to a "khooni panja" or bloody hand.
The BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate is expected to reply to the Commission's notice on those remarks today. (
read EC's notice to Modi)
Sources have told NDTV that poll panel members believe Mr Modi's choice of the words 'khooni panja' left little room for doubt that it was a reference to the Congress' poll symbol, the hand.
If the full commission endorses this view, Mr Modi may face disapproval for violating the model code of conduct, which says that the criticism of a political party should be limited to its policies and programmes, not unverified allegations.
But this can only lead to Mr Modi being "cautioned" to be circumspect about what he says in future campaigns, say sources.
At a rally in Chhattisgarh two weeks ago, Mr Modi had said, "Yadi aap chahte hain ki Chhattisgarh ke upar kisi khooni panje ka saya na pade to aap sabhi kamal mein button dabana aur. Chhattisgarh ko khooni panje se bachana (If you want to save Chhattisgarh from the bloody hand, vote for the lotus)."
The lotus is the election symbol of the BJP, which rules Chhattisgarh, where Assembly elections have been held in two phases.
The Congress had complained to the Election Commission that Mr Modi's remarks were "intemperate, malicious and defamatory."
The BJP maintains there was nothing wrong in Mr Modi's speech, but the Election Commission said in its notice that Mr Modi seemed to have violated its code.
The Election Commission had earlier rapped Rahul Gandhi for sections of his speeches accusing the BJP of inciting communal riots. (
read)