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Deeply honoured to win the International Press Institute-India Award 2020. It recognises my coverage of the LS Polls 2019 revealing the divide within the Election Commission in its response to complaints alleging poll code violations by PM Narendra Modi & Amit Shah
#Thread
#Thread
My first newsbreak (on 30.04.19) in @IndianExpress during the general elections highlighted how the EC took unusually long to discuss and decide complaints against the incumbent Prime Minister
https://indianexpress.com/elections/election-commission-of-india-narendra-modi-mcc-supreme-court-bjp-congress-5701758/
(2/n)
https://indianexpress.com/elections/election-commission-of-india-narendra-modi-mcc-supreme-court-bjp-congress-5701758/
(2/n)
Once the decisions finally came in, I reported that the poll watchdog had overruled the opinion of two of its officers who had red flagged the PM’s election speech referring to the Balakot airstrikes (3/n) https://indianexpress.com/elections/ec-over-rules-its-officers-gives-second-clean-chit-to-narendra-modi-5705845/
The above two stories led me to the scoop that one of the three election commissioners had opposed the all-clear given to the PM & Shah for invoking the armed forces in their campaign
Story 1: https://indianexpress.com/elections/divided-poll-panel-in-two-clean-chits-to-pm-narendra-modi-ecs-decision-was-not-unanimous-5707871/
Story 2: https://indianexpress.com/elections/lok-sabha-elections-2019-amit-shah-shah-wayanad-pak-speech-ec-clears-him-one-member-dissenting-5709821/
Story 1: https://indianexpress.com/elections/divided-poll-panel-in-two-clean-chits-to-pm-narendra-modi-ecs-decision-was-not-unanimous-5707871/
Story 2: https://indianexpress.com/elections/lok-sabha-elections-2019-amit-shah-shah-wayanad-pak-speech-ec-clears-him-one-member-dissenting-5709821/
On May 5, I reported that it was Lavasa who had opposed the all-clear to PM Modi & Amit Shah on FIVE occassions (5/n) https://indianexpress.com/elections/lok-sabha-elections-lavasa-opposed-five-clean-chits-to-amit-shah-pm-modi-5710773/
On the eve of the last phase of LS polls 2019, the EC was split wide open.
Lavasa refused to attend meetings of the Commission unless his (opposing) views on alleged MCC violations were recorded in the orders. He also forced EC to reconsider its clean chit to PMO and NITI Aayog
Lavasa refused to attend meetings of the Commission unless his (opposing) views on alleged MCC violations were recorded in the orders. He also forced EC to reconsider its clean chit to PMO and NITI Aayog
In this interview to @IndianExpress, Lavasa spoke about about his recusal from Commission meetings https://indianexpress.com/elections/ashok-lavasa-election-commission-supreme-court-narendra-modi-mcc-violation-5739413/
The newsbreaks in @IndianExpress were followed up by all major newspapers and news channels.
Was pretty chuffed about my scoop finding a mention in @TheEconomist this year. https://twitter.com/KhurafatiChopra/status/1334820250945142787?s=20
Was pretty chuffed about my scoop finding a mention in @TheEconomist this year. https://twitter.com/KhurafatiChopra/status/1334820250945142787?s=20
Once again, super honoured to receive the IPI-India Award 2020. ALSO, more power to all beat reporters!!! 
