ECI Issues Show-Cause Notice to BJP Haryana for Violating Election Guidelines by Using Child in Campaign Video

Chandigarh, August 29, 2024 — The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a show-cause notice to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Haryana for a significant breach of election guidelines. The party is under scrutiny for using a child in one of its election campaign videos, a move that violates the ECI’s strict regulations against involving minors in political activities.

The notice was prompted by a post on X (formerly Twitter) from BJP Haryana’s official handle, which featured the controversial campaign video. The video has sparked criticism and raised questions about the party’s adherence to electoral norms.

ECI’s Guidelines on Children in Election Campaigns

The ECI has clear guidelines prohibiting the use of children in any form of election-related activities. These guidelines are rooted in the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act and are designed to protect minors from being exploited in political campaigns.

The rules explicitly state that:

• Political parties are prohibited from involving children in rallies, slogan shouting, or the distribution of posters.
• Political leaders and candidates are forbidden from using children in campaign activities, such as holding a child, carrying a child in a vehicle, or involving them in rallies.
• The use of children to promote political campaigns, whether through poems, songs, spoken words, or political insignia, is strictly banned.
• Children cannot be used to endorse a political party’s achievements or criticize opponents.

The only exception to these rules is if a child is merely present with their parent or guardian near a political leader and is not actively participating in any campaign activity. In such cases, it is not considered a violation of the guidelines.

BJP Haryana’s Response and the Upcoming Election

The Chief Electoral Officer of Haryana has demanded an immediate corrective action from BJP Haryana and has set a deadline of 6 pm on August 29 for the party to submit its response to the notice. The party’s state president has been directly addressed in the notice, reflecting the seriousness with which the ECI views this violation.

This development comes at a crucial time, as Haryana is gearing up for the upcoming assembly elections on October 1, with results expected on October 4. The election campaign has already seen intense political activity, with parties vying for control of the 90-member Haryana Assembly.

In the last assembly elections, the BJP formed a coalition government with the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), but the alliance later collapsed due to disagreements over seat-sharing in the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP subsequently secured its government with the support of Independent MLAs.

The use of children in campaign activities is a sensitive issue, and the ECI’s swift action underscores its commitment to ensuring that electoral guidelines are strictly followed.