With the last phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh over, the Election Commission today issued a rather hard-hitting order asking the BJP to publicly “condemn” the contents of the controversial anti-Muslim CD, released three days before the first phase of polling, through an “unequivocal and unambiguous declaration” by May 15.

Keeping the CD issue alive, the EC reserved its right “to take further action under Para 16 A of the Symbols Order” on completion of investigations by the state police. In other words the BJP, which now has to prepare for elections in Goa and then Gujarat, still faces the threat of its symbol being suspended.

“If it reveals the involvement of national or state-level party leaders in the production, distribution and dissemination of the CD, the commission will review the progress of the case from time to time for appropriate action,” the 21-page order signed by all three members—CEC N Gopalaswami, ECs Navin Chawla and S Y Qureishi—of the poll panel said.

The EC virtually refused to absolve the party “of the responsibility of its members and functionaries”. Two days after the CD was released by senior BJP leader Lalji Tandon at the party headquarters in Lucknow, allegedly without the knowledge of the central leadership, an FIR was lodged in the Hazratganj police station at the EC’s behest. The investigation into the aspects of production, distribution, manuscript, approval of content and the role played by various functionaries of the BJP in its circulation is still on.

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