Will Take Strict View on Violence: CEC on Baba Siddique's Killing Ahead of Maharashtra Elections

New Delhi: Days after NCP leader Baba Siddique was killed in Mumbai, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Tuesday emphasized that the Election Commission will take a strict stance against preventing violence, particularly targeting political figures, as the Model Code of Conduct comes into force in Maharashtra .

In response to concerns following Siddique's killing—especially as the poll panel grapples with urban apathy towards voting—the CEC stated, "After the MCC declaration, we will make it extremely clear to the police authorities in a particular state that you are mentioning that violence of any kind and a crime of this nature, which has political overtones, would be absolutely a no-go area for the commission."

He further asserted, "So far, we did not have a role. As the MCC comes into force, we will have a strict view on this. We will direct everyone that any kind of violence or crime, especially against any political person, should not happen."

The CEC added, "We ensured that it did not happen in Haryana , Jammu and Kashmir... States after states."

Baba Siddique (66), a former Maharashtra minister who joined the Ajit Pawar -led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in February after leaving the Congress, was waylaid by three men at Kher Nagar in Mumbai's Bandra area, just outside his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique's office, and shot dead on Saturday night.

The Maharashtra Assembly polls are scheduled to take place in a single phase on November 20.

(With PTI inputs)