Kerala Election Commission BJP Seal Row

A significant political controversy erupted in India — Kerala after a letter from the India — Election Commission of India was found bearing the seal of the India — Bharatiya Janata Party India — Kerala unit. The document, an affidavit attached to a March 19, 2019, letter detailing guidelines on criminal antecedents of candidates, was inadvertently redistributed by the India — Election Commission of India's Chief Electoral Officer's office. The India — Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the India — Indian National Congress swiftly flagged the issue on social media, accusing the India — Election Commission of India of bias and questioning its impartiality. The India — Election Commission of India, through the Chief Electoral Officer of India — Kerala, Ratan U. Khelkar, clarified that it was a 'purely clerical error' that occurred because the India — Bharatiya Janata Party India — Kerala unit had submitted a photocopy of the original 2019 directive with its seal, which was then mistakenly circulated. The erroneous document was promptly withdrawn on March 21, and an Assistant Section Officer was suspended. Opposition parties, including the India — Trinamool Congress, continued to criticize the incident, emphasizing the importance of maintaining clear distinctions between constitutional bodies and political parties, especially weeks before the India — Kerala Legislative Assembly election.