New Delhi: Transparency activist Saket Gokhale, who last week had alleged that an advertising and social media company owned by a BJP office-bearer was hired by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Maharashtra to issue election-related online ads during the 2019 assembly polls, has now also claimed that the Election Commission of India itself authorised government bodies to appoint the social media agency for the Lok Sabha 2019 elections.
In fact, in two days, Gokhale has tweeted about two different social media agencies which worked both for the BJP and the Election Commission of India.
After Gokhale’s tweets last week, the Maharashtra CEO claimed that it was “misleading and incorrect” to suggest that his office had engaged any agency on political considerations. He claimed that the selection was done by the state Directorate General of Information and Public Relations (DGIPR). The DGIPR, he said, “follows rules in force and a laid-down procedure for selecting an appropriate agency for public awareness”.
The CEO had also stated that “an interim reply of facts has been sent to the Election Commission of India (ECI),” in view of the allegations levelled by Gokhale.
Also read: EC Orders Probe Against Maharashtra CEO for Hiring BJP Activist to Handle Its Social Media
In two days, activist tweets about two agencies that were common to ECI and BJP
On Thursday, July 30, Gokhale followed up on the matter saying, “After the nexus between BJP & Electoral Officer Maharashtra, things have gotten quite bigger.” He added through a tweet that “It’s now clear that the Election Commission of India itself authorised Modi-govt bodies to appoint its social media agency for the Lok Sabha 2019 Elections.”
Elaborating on the issue, the activist wrote: “In 2019, the @SpokespersonECI appointed an agency called TSD Corporation for handling their social media for the Lok Sabha Elections 2019. The agency was hired by ECI through the govt-run NFDC Ltd. & NOT independently.”
Also read: Who Will Break Down the Election Commission’s Iron Opposition to the RTI?
He then tweeted a screenshot of the official handle of TSD Corporation showing a commendation letter it received from ECI.
Here’s a screenshot from the official handle of @TSDCorp with employees celebrating the conclusion of the ECI Lok Sabha campaign.
They also put up a copy of the commendation letter issued by the Election Commission of India.
(2/6) pic.twitter.com/QP24bwR9qT
Advertisement— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) July 30, 2020
Seeking to establish a link between the social media agency and BJP, Gokhale further wrote that TSD Corporations client roster is a whos-who list of BJP and government leaders.
Now let’s have a look at the roster of clients that TSD Corporation has worked for.
Starting with PM Modi himself, their entire client roster is a whos-who of the leaders of the BJP & Modi govt ministers.
(Link: https://t.co/xTwkjWz4l0)
Advertisement(3/6) pic.twitter.com/GClm8koxju
— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) July 30, 2020
He added that this agency had also handled digital media for several ministers of the Modi government and other BJP leaders.
Agency ECI picked, also handled Modi’s Digital India campaign
“In 2016,” Gokhale said, “TSD Corporation was the official agency which was handed over the entire work for Modi’s “Digital India” campaign.”
In view of this, Gokhale posed a direct query to the ECI spokesperson asking: “Why is @SpokespersonECI & other Electoral Officers in states allowing BJP govts to appoint their agencies? Why aren’t agencies being appointed independently by ECI? Why is a constitutionally neutral body like ECI working on directions of BJP govts?”
Also read: The Legacy of a Different CEC: When J.M. Lyngdoh Stood up to Modi
Finally, he wrote: “This is just a small instalment of the investigation. There’s more intricate webs tying up the ECI & BJP which I’ll reveal one-by-one.” He signed off on Thursday while urging the ECI spokesperson to “clarify why they allow BJP govt to appoint their agencies & why isn’t the process done independently?”
Also read: EC Hands out Fourth ‘Clean Chit’ to Modi, but Uploads No Details on Website
Why is ECI hiring agencies that handle BJP accounts?
Stating that, “this is how deeply BJP proxies have infiltrated the Election Commission of India”, Gokhale asked, “Why is the ECI hiring agencies that handle BJP accounts & election campaigning?” He also demanded to know, “Where is the proof that no data is being leaked?”
And then tagging the ECI spokesperson, he asked: “Will @SpokespersonECI answer?”
Note: This article was edited on May 17, 2023 in response to a potential legal challenge.
