Politics

Election Commission Orders Action Against Nagpur School for Using Kids to Welcome Gadkari

Mumbai: The director of the NSVM Fulwari School in Nagpur was directed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to take action on Tuesday for deploying schoolchildren to greet BJP candidate Nitin Gadkari. In response to a complaint from Congress alleging that the school director had violated the model code of conduct, the polling body instructed the concerned education officer to take the necessary steps. When will the BJP candidate be subject to legal action? The Congress has inquired.

S. Chockalingam, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), did not return calls or texts.

Atul Londhe, the chief spokesperson for the Congress, submitted a complaint on April 3rd, accusing the BJP and Gadkari of breaking the code of conduct. “On April 1, at a political event in Vaishali Nagar, the BJP and its candidate utilized pupils from the NSVM Fulvari school. It is alarming that there is such a flagrant disdain for the law and morality,” the complaint stated. Additionally, Londhe has included screenshots and videos to support his assertion.

The election commission opened an investigation after receiving notice of the complaint. School director Murlidhar Pavnikar was found guilty during a hearing, and after the principal’s written explanation was submitted, of employing schoolchildren unnecessarily to welcome Nitin Gadkari during a campaign for office. As a result, we have instructed the secondary education officer to act in accordance with the established laws and regulations,” the ECI said in an order on Tuesday.

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Despite applauding the ruling, Congress has noted that, although the complaint was directed at Gadkari, the school administration was the target of action. When will action against Gadkari be taken? Londhe questioned, “Even though we appreciate the action initiated against the school administration, no action has been taken against the BJP candidate.”