BJP’s IT Cell Head Tweets K’taka Poll Dates Before EC, Election Watchdog to Take Action

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) information technology head Amit Malviya, on March 27, landed himself in controversy by tweeting the dates for Karnataka Assembly elections 2018, even before the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Later, Malviya deleted his tweet, after journalists and many others started raising questions.

Malviya tweeted that the polling will be held (in the southern state) on May 12 and the results would be declared on May 18, hours before Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Om Prakash Rawat declared the dates.

The Congress was quick to attack the BJP, calling the ruling party the new “Super Election Commission”. “(The) BJP becomes the Super Election Commission as they announce poll dates for Karnataka even before the EC. Credibility of EC is on test. Will EC now issue notice to BJP President, Amit Shah & register an FIR against BJP IT Head for leaking EC’s confidential information?” wrote Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala in a post on a micro-blogging site Twitter.

BJP becomes the ‘Super Election Commission’ as they announce poll dates for Karnataka even before the EC.

Credibility of EC is on test.
Will EC now issue notice to BJP President, Amit Shah & register an FIR against BJP IT Head for leaking EC’s confidential information? pic.twitter.com/i3vU2iJpjH

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) March 27, 2018

Reacting to BJP’s IT Cell head tweet, Rawat said, “It will be investigated. Be assured that actions, legally and administratively befitting, will be taken.”

Several journalists also took to Twitter to express their dissatisfaction over Malviya’s statement.

Author and social commentator Suhel Seth said on twitter,  “Did the @BJP4India IT cell actually announce the Election Dates in Karnataka even before the Election Commission did? Why the hell don’t they also announce the results? Before voting.”

Did the @BJP4India IT cell actually announce the Election Dates in Karnataka even before the Election Commission did? Why the hell don’t they also announce the results? Before voting.

— SUHEL SETH (@suhelseth) March 27, 2018

NDTV anchor Nidhi Razdan also tweeted, “Why have you deleted your original tweet announcing the election date before the EC? That tweet was not sourced to any channel. Screenshots are everywhere though.”

Why have you deleted your original tweet announcing the election date before the EC? That tweet was not sourced to any channel. Screenshots are everywhere though https://t.co/8rc7XIaBqw

— Nidhi Razdan (@Nidhi) March 27, 2018