An activist has written to the Election Commission of India alleging that the Narendra Modi government has violated the Model Code of Conduct with its decision to open electoral bond sales – from November 6 to November 20 – ahead of assembly elections in five states.
The Electoral Bond Scheme, notified in January 2018, only allowed the sale of electoral bonds in January, April, July and October months in a non-Lok Sabha election year. But the Centre had introduced amendments last year to allow for more electoral bonds sales in years which saw assembly elections. These powers were reportedly used ahead of the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh polls last year too. The activist’s letter comes days after the Supreme Court decided to reserve its verdict in the challenge to the electoral bonds scheme.
