Govt sought to advertise GST rate cut on certain goods like khakhra, and commence international operations at Surat airport. EC shot down both requests.
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India seems to have foiled the best-laid plans of the Narendra Modi government. It has refused permission for the government to advertise the GST rate cut on certain goods like khakhra in Gujarat and neighbouring states (dubbed #Khakhranomics on social media), and has also raised questions about plans to announce international operations at the Surat airport in the middle of the Gujarat elections.
Sources told ThePrint that the EC has, however, permitted the government to run advertisements about the simplified tax process, without mentioning specifics like khakhras that could influence voters.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Department of Revenue had sought the EC’s go-ahead for customs notification of the Surat airport, so it could begin international operations on 10 December. This has been a long-pending demand of the textile and diamond hub, which votes on 9 December.
The EC, however, has now as good as held back the plan, seeking more information. It is learnt to have questioned why the declaration could not be made a few days later, since the poll process in the state will be completed by 18 December. It feels that even though the notification is proposed for a day after polling in Surat, it is likely that there will be prior advertising, which could influence voters.
Significance of airport politics
The EC’s stance on the airport is significant, as Surat is an area which is expected to witness a strong political contest between the ruling BJP and the Congress. The ruling party has taken quite a hit due to demonetisation and GST, and the Patidar protests demanding quotas.
Surat has also been waiting for its airport to be declared international, and a number of organisations have strongly raised the demand. The delay in the customs notification has upset many in the area, as international operations from Surat airport are expected to boost trade.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) had proposed to the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) to approve a customs notified status for the city airport in November 2016. Jayant Sinha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, had also assured earlier this year that the notification would come through by September.
Effect of the Model Code of Conduct
The EC received a total of 65 references from the Centre during the Model Code of Conduct period in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat. It is learnt that all but one of these — which pertained to the Women and Child Development Ministry’s proposal to release funds for its nutrition scheme — were disposed of.
Thirty-two references were also received from the Gujarat government, seven of which are still pending.
The EC had also deferred some central government proposals in Himachal Pradesh last month, due to the Model Code of Conduct being in effect.
It had asked the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers to defer the release of an advertisement highlighting its achievements in Himachal Pradesh, while the agriculture minister’s message on World Food Day was also barred from being broadcast in the state.
Earlier this year, the EC had declined permission to the NITI Aayog to hold its Digi Dhan Melas in election-bound Punjab. It had also shot down a NITI Aayog plan to release Rs 79.83 crore towards the Bundelkhand package in UP during the model code period.