Ahead of states elections in West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Naidu, Election commission of India asks Centre to remove PM’s photos from covid-19 vaccine certificates after TMC’s complaint
The Election Commission (EC) has demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photo be removed from Covid-19 vaccination certificates in four states and one union territory ahead of this year’s Assembly elections. According to a source, the move was made to preserve the Model Code of Conduct’s impermissibility weeks before assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, where the Moral Code of Conduct is already in effect.
PM Modi’s photo on vaccination certificates equates to “deliberately misusing government apparatus” in the region ahead of the assembly elections, according to TMC MP Derek O’Brien in a letter to the poll panel.
“By putting his picture, name, and message on the interim certificates released by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, he is not only abusing his position and resources, but also depriving the manufacturers of Covid vaccines of praiseworthy credit,” the TMC MP wrote.
According to reports, the effective election body first demanded a report from the West Bengal Electoral Official in the issue, and then ordered the Union Health Ministry to withdraw the photographs. In poll-bound states, the government has been told to implement a scheme that will prevent PM Modi’s picture from appearing on vaccine certificates.
In other states, the certificates, on the other side, may have images of PM. The second phase of vaccines for those over 60 started on Monday; those over 45 with severe illnesses will now apply for the Covid shots.
West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry will hold elections in the coming weeks to elect their new governments. Bengal would vote in eight phases: on March 27, April 1, April 6, April 10, April 17, April 22, April 26 and April 29, and on April 1 and 8. On April 6, Tamil Nadu and Kerala will vote in a single round. On the same day, voters in Puducherry will cast their ballots.
