• Source:JND
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The Election Commission (EC) of India served a notice on Wednesday to the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Haryana president seeking "immediate corrective steps" over a social media post by the party's state unit. The use of children in campaigns and other poll-related activities is violative of the EC's guidelines.

According to news agency PTI, the state president of the saffron party has been asked to submit his response to the show-case notice by 6 p.m. on Thursday. The notice was issued by the state chief electoral officer after taking cognisance of a video posted by the Haryana BJP on its official X handle. The poll panel in February had asked the political parties and candidates to refrain from using children in political campaigns and rallies "in any manner".

"Political parties are explicitly directed not to engage children in any form of election campaign, including rallies, slogan shouting, distribution of posters or pamphlets, or any other election-related activity," the EC had said. 

On Sunday, the BJP's CEC held a meeting to discuss the names of candidates for the upcoming assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. As per sources cited by news agency PTI, the saffron party has finalised candidates in over 50 assembly segments. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other members of the CEC attended the meeting along with party leaders from Jammu and Kashmir.

The Election Commission had earlier announced that the Haryana assembly polls would be held in a single phase on October 1 and the results would be declared on October 4. The BJP is hoping for a third consecutive term, while the Congress is looking to wrest power from the ruling outfit in the state. The tenure of the current Haryana Vidhan Sabha ends on November 3.