The Prime Minister has misused the Doordarshan for political messaging through his broadcast on April 18, 2026, while the Model Code of Conduct is in force and elections to the state assemblies of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal are nearing. Usage of the public broadcaster for political messaging during elections constitutes a violation of the MCC.
The CPI(M) has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India and has sought initiation of proceedings against the PM and others for this violation.
Attached is the letter sent to the ECI by General Secretary M.A Baby.
The Chief Election Commissioner
Election Commission of India
Nirvachan Sadan
New Delhi 110 001
Sir,
Subject: Complaint Regarding Violation of Model Code of Conduct – Misuse of Public Broadcaster Doordarshan for Partisan Political Speech
This is to bring to your urgent attention a serious violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by the Prime Minister of India, arising from the misuse of the public broadcaster, Doordarshan, to deliver a political speech.
The MCC is in force given the impending elections to the legislatures of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. However, even during the subsistence of the MCC the Prime Minister addressed the nation on April 18, 2026. The content, tone, and messaging of the address can by no stretch of imagination be termed as governmental communication. It was blatantly political, targeting the opposition parties – naming many of them – and seeking to influence public opinion, including the voters of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, in favour of the ruling party.
This constitutes a flagrant breach of the MCC provision laid down in Section 4 under the heading “Party in Power” which states:
“Issue of advertisement at the cost of public exchequer in the newspapers and other media and the misuse of official mass media during the election period for partisan coverage of political news and publicity regarding achievements with a view to furthering the prospects of the party in power shall be scrupulously avoided.”
(Ref: https://www.eci.gov.in/mcc/)
Usage of a public broadcaster as a platform for political messaging during an election by the incumbent Prime Minister creates an uneven playing field and undermines the principle of free and fair elections, which is the cornerstone of our parliamentary democratic framework.
Under these circumstances, we urge upon the Election Commission to take cognisance of this violation and urgently initiate appropriate proceedings against the Prime Minister and concerned authorities.
Yours truly
M. A. Baby
(General Secretary)