Vijender Gupta's 'distorted photos' plea: AAP tells EC it didn't violate Model Code of Conduct

New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday denied charges of putting up "distorted" pictures of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vijender Gupta in its election posters across Delhi while maintaining that it has not violated the Model Code of Conduct and the allegations are "politically motivated".

Gupta had on Monday lodged a complaint with the State Election Commission against AAP's National Convener Arvind Kejriwal for using his "distorted photographs" in his party's hoardings for the upcoming civic polls.

The Delhi State Election Commission (SEC) had asked the AAP to file a reply to a complaint by Gupta in this regard.

The poster, seen in many parts of the city, carries photos of both Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Leader of Opposition Gupta and asks voters as to who they would prefer to hold the reins of the municipal corporations.

In its reply to the SEC, AAP's Delhi unit convener Dilip Pandey said, the photo depicts two different parties, their political ideologies and the work done by them.

"All charges levelled against us are baseless. Gupta is the Leader of the Opposition and all charges raised by him are politically motivated. We have not violated any Model Code of Conduct," Pandey said.

If the BJP leader found his picture on the posters objectionable then he should "send his photo, which can be used for ad campaign", he said, adding, "Gupta's photo, which was used in the campaign, is commonly found on the Internet."

In a separate letter to Gupta, apparently mocking the BJP leader, Pandey said, he (Gupta) should not complain if his photo is replaced by that of Union Minister Vijay Goel.

In his complaint to the SEC, Gupta had said, "The posters show a smiling face of Kejriwal while depicting me in a distorted and villainous way."

He had alleged Kejriwal and his party had resorted to "bad practices" and breached the election rules.

"I vehemently object to this. The party (AAP) and its leaders have no right to use my picture and much less a distorted one. It is done with a mala fide intention to let me and my supporters down," Gupta said in the letter.

"Kindly take strict action against Kejriwal and other AAP leaders for breaching the rules and issue a direction to the accused party to remove such posters/ hoardings," Gupta demanded.

In the hoardings, the AAP has asked the voters whether they want to give the governance of municipal corporations to Kejriwal or to Vijendra Gupta.

"Reins of MCD to whom: Kejriwal or Vijendra Gupta?" the hoardings read.

The BJP has been ruling the municipal corporation in the city for the last 10 years.

Elections for the North, East and South Delhi Municipal Corporations are scheduled for April 23 and results will be announced on April 26.