Karnataka High Court quashes case over wedding invitations campaigning for Modi

The Karnataka High Court has quashed a case filed by the flying squad of the Election Officer in Sulya, Karnataka. The case involved Shivaprasad, a bride, who had printed wedding invitations featuring a campaign message for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The invitation read that voting for Modi in the 2024 national elections would be considered a gift to him.

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Shivaprasad argued that the wedding cards were printed on March 1, 2024, before the model code of conduct came into effect on March 16, 2024. He contended that since the invitations were printed prior to the enforcement of the code, they did not violate any election rules.

The Election Officer’s flying squad had filed the case, accusing Shivaprasad of using the wedding invitations for political campaigning, which is prohibited under the model code of conduct. However, the High Court accepted Shivaprasad’s argument and ruled in his favor, stating that the case should be quashed.

This ruling has sparked discussions on the timing of the election code’s implementation and its implications on campaigns and events held prior to it. Despite the case being dismissed, the incident highlights the fine line between personal celebrations and political endorsements during election periods.