New Delhi: The Election Commission has sought a detailed report from the Maharashtra chief electoral officer following a journalist’s Twitter allegation Thursday that the latter used the BJP’s social media team to issue election-related ads ahead of the 2019 assembly polls. The state was under the BJP at the time.
The allegations were made by journalist Saket Gokhale.
Shocking details:
Election Commission of India literally hired the BJP IT Cell for handling their social media in Maharashtra in the run-up to the 2019 State Assembly Elections.
Thread ?
— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) July 23, 2020
The Election Commission spokesperson took note of the allegation and issued a reply on Twitter.
Regarding tweet of Mr Gokhale @SaketGokhale, Commission has sought detailed factual report in this matter from CEO Maharashtra with respect to alleged locale of the incidence immediately.
— Sheyphali Sharan (@SpokespersonECI) July 23, 2020
The Maharashtra assembly elections were held in October 2019. Approached for comment via text, Maharashtra CEO Baldev Harpal Singh, who has held the office since June last year, just said “a detailed report has been sought of the facts”.
Also read: After posting picture with Pilot and Scindia, Kuldeep Bishnoi clarifies he isn’t joining BJP
One address, two companies
In a series of tweets Thursday, Gokhale alleged that the “Election Commission of India literally hired the BJP IT Cell for handling their social media in Maharashtra in the run-up to the 2019 State Assembly Elections”.
He pointed to an address in the ads, and said “something very strange stood out”. “In each of the ads, the address seemed to be the same: 202 Pressman House, Vile Parle, Mumbai,” he said.
According to Gokhale, when he sought to find out who the address belongs to, he found it to be that of an advertising company called “Signpost India”, which was an empaneled agency under the erstwhile Devendra Fadnavis government.
At present, Google identifies the company as “temporarily closed”. ThePrint independently verified the address of the company, and found it to be the one printed on advertisements issued by the Maharashtra CEO ahead of the state polls.
Gokhale alleged that the same address was also used by a digital agency called ‘Social Central’, which is owned by Devang Dave, the national convener of the IT & social media wing of the BJP’s youth wing.
“Devang Dave is also the founder of websites and pages like ‘The Fearless Indian’, ‘I Support Narendra Modi’ etc. His agency lists the BJP (naturally) as a client along with other govt. entities. The above pages are full of h@teful political content of BJP IT Cell,” Gokhale added.
On its website, according to screenshots posted by Gokhale, Social Central shows the Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer as a client.
The address 202 Pressman House was also used by a digital agency called "Social Central".
This agency is owned by Devang Dave who is the national convener of IT & social media for BJP's Youth Wing @BJYM.
Guess who shows up on his client list on his website? (see images)
(3/6) pic.twitter.com/hx58c8n23C
— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) July 23, 2020
When approached for a comment, Dave said the matter has just come to his knowledge, and he is trying to figure out why he is “being dragged into this”.
Dave added that he will offer a detailed response once he has “figured out” the issue.
Speaking to ThePrint, former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said he will be addressing a press conference on the matter Friday. “Prima facie, there appears to be a problem, I will be addressing a press conference tomorrow once I have the full information,” he added.
Also read: Siddaramaiah flags documents, says they prove ‘Rs 2,000-cr Covid scam’ by Yediyurappa govt
Please publish an investigative article on Gandhi Family MoU with China’s Communist Party.
We are very interested to know about that.