The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued a notice to Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Delhi minister Atishi on April 5 regarding her recent statement alleging coercion to "join BJP or face jail." Atishi has been given until 5 p.m. on April 6 to furnish a response to the notice.

The notice from the ECI emphasized the need for political discourse to adhere to certain standards, urging parties to refrain from personal attacks or unfounded allegations. It reminded parties and candidates to limit criticism to policies, records, and public activities, rather than indulging in personal attacks or spreading misinformation.

Atishi's statement, made during a press conference on April 2, triggered the ECI's notice after a complaint was filed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In her remarks, Atishi alleged that she was pressured to join the BJP or face punitive actions, including potential raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

"I have been told that soon there will be ED raids at our residence and then we will be taken into custody. The BJP is now targeting the next line of the leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party," Atishi stated.

Responding to Atishi's claims, the BJP dismissed them as baseless and challenged their veracity. BJP leader RP Singh countered Atishi's assertion by highlighting the absence of evidence supporting her allegations.

“I too can make such baseless allegations. I too can say that Saurabh Bharadwaj called me up and requested me to protect them from Arvind Kejriwal who wants to put them behind bars and make Sunita Kejriwal the CM," RP Singh remarked.

The timing of this notice holds significance in the context of recent events, particularly the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on March 21. Kejriwal, along with several AAP leaders including Satyendar Jain, Manish Sisodia, and Sanjay Singh, faced legal actions. However, Singh was granted bail by the Supreme Court on April 2, while Kejriwal remains in judicial custody until April 15.

As the political landscape remains tense in Delhi, with ongoing clashes between AAP and BJP, the ECI's intervention underscores the importance of maintaining decorum and integrity in political discourse, especially during electoral campaigns. Atishi's response to the ECI's notice will likely shed further light on the matter, influencing the trajectory of this developing story.