Reacting to the issue, BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said that the comments had been made out of desperation.
"Khurshid's diatribe against Election Commission is nothing but their (Congress's) desperation. His other senior colleagues are opting out of the election race.
"Khurshid has not opted out, but is sure to lose; therefore, he is now blaming it not on Congress but on Election Commission," he said.
Former Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami said that Khurshid's criticism was unfair.
CPI(M) leader Nilotpal Basu said it was important to remember that the Model Code of Conduct had resulted not because of any legislation but was based on a consensus between political parties.
Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that the party considered the Model Code of Conduct as well as the orders of Election Commission to be the law and followed the same religiously.
In an apparent reference to the Supreme Court judgement disqualifying convicted lawmakers, Khurshid said it was "a judge-made law".
He was also reported as having remarked that the "broad philosophical approach" of Election Commission guidelines seemed to be that "you should do or say nothing that wins you an election".
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
