The Election Commission of India has asked the Union health ministry and the chief electoral officer of West Bengal to respond to the Trinamool Congress’ complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photo on digital certificates to Covid-19 vaccine recipients, The Indian Express reported on Friday.
“We want to ascertain the facts first,” an unidentified official told the newspaper. “For instance, whether these certificates are indeed being distributed on the instructions of the health ministry. As a matter of routine, we always seek a response from all the involved parties in such complaints.” The West Bengal chief electoral officer has been asked to submit a report on the matter within 24 hours, according to ThePrint.
Earlier this week, the TMC had petitioned the Election Commission to remove Modi’s photo from the certificates, alleging that it was a “blatant misuse of official machinery” and violated the Model Code of Conduct. “By placing his…