Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) wrote a letter to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday, 1 April, over the recently launched NaMo TV. The party asked the EC if a permission was sought by the BJP before the launch of the channel.
“Can permission be granted to a party to have their own TV channel even after model code of conduct is enforced? If no permission was sought by the ECI then what action has been taken,” AAP wrote in the letter according to news agency ANI.
The party also said the Supreme Court in its various judgments, held that there has to be a “level playing field” for all political parties. “The Commission is entrusted with the duty to maintain the same among all the parties.”
Moh Irshad from AAP’s legal cell told IANS that the intention behind these judicial precedents was to have equal opportunities to all political parties irrespective of money and muscle power so that all political parties can reach out to the voters.
He asked if permission can be granted to a party to have their own TV channel even after the Model Code of Conduct is enforced.
The party also asked if the content on the channel will be monitored. “If no permission sought by the EC, then what action has been taken in this regard?,” the letter read.
Launched last week, the channel is devoted to the coverage of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speeches and rallies. Both the BJP and Modi have promoted it on social media.
According to The Hindu, the Election Commission is currently examining the letter.
(With inputs from The Hindu, IANS and ANI)
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