Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Thiruvananthapuram, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, has taken legal action against Congress Leader J. Moses Joseph DCruz for purportedly morphing a photograph to tarnish his campaign.
The BJP alleges that DCruz engaged in criminal activities by manipulating an old image featuring Union Minister Kumari Pratima Bhowmick alongside Chandrasekhar.
The controversy erupted when a photograph, dating back to August 4, 2023, surfaced on social media platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp. According to the BJP, DCruz allegedly morphed Minister Bhowmick's face with that of PK Indira, the wife of CPI(M) leader EP Jayarajan.
The image was accompanied by a caption implying a professional connection between Chandrasekhar and PK Indira, leading to baseless conspiracy theories alleging business ties between Chandrasekhar and EP Jayarajan.
In response, Chandrasekhar condemned these actions as desperate measures by the Congress, claiming that they lacked a substantive developmental agenda or achievements to showcase in Thiruvananthapuram. He asserted that the Congress's tactics were aimed at misleading the public and garnering sympathy through false information.
Adding to the controversy, allegations circulated on social media, propagated by Congress leaders, claiming that Chandrasekhar failed to disclose all his assets and income in his affidavit to the Election Commission. However, these allegations were dismissed by both the Election Commission and the Delhi High Court.
Chandrasekhar has now filed a formal complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer of Kerala, citing a violation of the Model Code of Conduct by the Congress party. He criticized the dissemination of false videos and allegations against him, emphasizing that his affidavits have never been found false by any competent authority.
The BJP maintains that the Congress is in clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct by spreading unverified allegations and distortion. Despite public disclosure and rulings in favor of Chandrasekhar by electoral authorities and the judiciary, the Congress persists in perpetuating misinformation to tarnish his image.
The legal action taken by Rajeev Chandrasekhar highlights the importance of upholding electoral integrity and holding accountable those who engage in spreading false information for political gain. The ongoing battle between political parties underscores the need for transparency and ethical conduct in the electoral process.
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