EC warns Maneka Gandhi over her 'A-B-C-D' Category System To Divide Villages As Per Votes Received

Citing violation 'General Conduct' and 'Model Code of conduct, for the guidance of Political parties and candidates' has strongly condemned and warned Union Minister of Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi to not repeat such misconduct in the future. The warning by Election Commission comes after Maneka gave a controversial speech on April 14, in Sultanpur where she suggested A, B, C and D category system to divide villages who voted for her and accordingly work for them after elections. 

While speaking in an election campaign rally in Sultanpur, she had said that those villages from where she will receive 80% of votes will be under category A, those who cast 60% votes in her favour will be under category B. She further said that those villages where her vote share will be less than 50 percent will come at category C and those who cast below 30 percent votes in her favour will be category D. She had also claimed that this category system has been implemented in the constituency of Pilibhit from where she won the elections in 2014.

"Hum har gaon me A B C D karte hai. Jis gaon me 80% vote mila vo A jisme 60% mila vo B jisme 50% mila vo C aur jisme 50% se kam aa rahe hai humare vo D. Toh sabse pehle kaam A walo ka hota hai. jab A walo ka kaam hota hai tab B walo ka. Fie B walo ka khatam hota hai toh C walo ka. Toh aap samjh gaye.Ye aapke upar hai ki aap A B C me kaha ate ho aur koi D na kare. Chuki hum sab log acha hi karenge aapka."

Here's the EC order:

WATCH: Maneka Gandhi Defends Her 'Won't Work For Muslims If They Don't Vote For Me' Stand, Says "nothing Wrong In Saying That"

Earlier, the poll body had banned Maneka from campaigning for 48 hours as a punishment for her polarising speech. The order read: 

"Over the violation of the Model Code of Conduct, the poll body has 'strongly condemned' the Union Minister for her communal statement and under the Article 324 has upheld her powers from holding any public meetings, public processions,  public rallies, road shows and interviews, public utterances in the media (electronic, print of social media) for 48 hours from Tuesday 10 am."

Maneka, a six-time BJP MP, is contesting the Lok Sabha elections 2019 from Sultanpur, from where her son Varun Gandhi won in 2014 general elections. Varun, is contesting from Pilibhit, the constituency represented by Maneka for five terms. 

The Sultanpur constituency goes on polls in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections 2019.