BJP using unfair campaign practices ahead of Bankipur bypoll, says Prashant Kishor
Prashant Kishor alleges the BJP used district administration resources and “Jeevika Didis” for campaigning ahead of the Bankipur by-election on 30 July and threatened a sit-in outside the State Election Commission office within 24 hours.
- State Election Commission is the body that runs local-body elections in a state and can receive election-related complaints.
- District administration staff and government machinery are expected to stay neutral; misuse for a party can trigger complaints.
- Jeevika Didis are government-program workers; Prashant Kishor alleged they were used in election campaigning.
- The Model Code of Conduct is an Election Commission guideline during elections that aims to prevent misuse of government resources.
What happened (Bankipur by-election, 30 July)
Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor criticised the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the Bankipur by-election scheduled for 30 July. Prashant Kishor alleged that BJP campaign activities were using district administration resources and deploying “Jeevika Didis” as part of campaigning.
Prashant Kishor also announced a time-bound escalation. Prashant Kishor said he would hold a sit-in outside the office of the State Election Commission if the alleged practices were not stopped within 24 hours.
UPSC may frame this episode around whether election-time use of district administration resources and government-linked livelihood workers can cross into partisan campaigning, and what corrective steps election authorities and other competent institutions should take when complaints are time-bound.
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