BJP seeks disqualification of Nilekani

The party says that advertisements of Aadhaar are appearing in newspapers despite the election code of conduct coming into force on Mar 5

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today lodged a complaint against Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Chairman Nandan Nilekani with the Election Commission for violating code of conduct.

The party said, the complaint is against the advertisements of Aadhaar that are appearing in newspapers despite the election code of conduct coming into force on March 5.

Nilekani, who is likely to contest on a Congress ticket from Bangalore South constituency, has launched an advertisement campaign in print, TV and online ahead of elections. The advertisements, bearing his photograph, have continued even after the announcement of the date of elections by the Election Commission on March 5.
 

Some of his advertisements have details of Aadhaar and his achievements as the UIDAI chairman. In his advertisements, Nilekani has claimed credit for issuing Aadhaar numbers to 600 million people in the country.

“Nilekani is claiming credit for issuing Aadhaar numbers. It is a government programme with money spent by the government. How can he claim credit for that and use it in his advertisements. Who is he to make better Bangalore,” BJP asked in its complaint to the Election Commission.

Nilekani will stand against H N Ananth Kumar, the BJP leader and five-time winner from Bangalore South constituency.

Aadhaar programme is a government project taken up with the government money. No single person can claim credit for the success. It is a clear violation of the election code of conduct,” the party said in its complaint.

The BJP has urged the election commission to consider it as a violation of the election code of conduct and issue a notice to Nilekani.

It also demanded the commission to disqualify his candidature for the ensuing polls and also seek details of expenses incurred towards the advertisement campaign prior to the announcement of election code of conduct and after that.

Meanwhile, there was disturbance at Katriguppe area in Bangalore South constituency when a few individuals tried to disrupt a gathering of supporters who were signing up to volunteer for Nilekani.