Bihar elections: RJD welcomes EC's ban on BJP's 'controversial' ads

One of the advertisements alleged Lalu Prasad Nitish Kumar are planning to transfer the quota meant for Dalits to minorities

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Saturday welcomed the Election Commission's decision of slapping a ban on publication of two "controversial" advertisements of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying that it's victory for the people of Bihar.

"Yesterday we had complained to the Election Commission against the advertisements. The ban on those is victory for Bihar and its people. It is a victory for the Dalits and the backward classes," RJD spokesperson Jha told ANI.

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"The most important thing that comes out of the decision made by the Election Commission is that they have ensured that no harm could be made to the democracy," he added.

In an advisory, the Commission had yesterday asked to the Bihar Chief Electoral Officer to ensure that the two advertisements were not published in any newspaper or journal Saturday onwards, till the election process was over.

One of the advertisements alleged RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are snatching plates of Dalits by planning to transfer the quota meant for Dalits to minorities.

Another advertisement deals with "vote bank politics". The advertisements have already been published prominently in Hindi dailies coming out from Patna.

The Commission has also asked the state CEO to inform the Bihar BJP unit that such advertisements should not be published or broadcast.

Sources said the poll officials in the state would also check whether the name and details of the printer and publisher of the advertisements had been printed on the face of it as per the provisions of the Representation of the People Act.