A formal complaint has been submitted to the Election Commission of India alleging that politically charged pamphlets were circulated inside churches across Tamil Nadu during Sunday prayers on 19 April 2026, in the middle of the ongoing Assembly election cycle. The complaint raises concerns of electoral malpractice, religious mobilisation, and possible violations of both the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.
According to the complaint, the pamphlets, reportedly distributed in multiple districts, contained explicit political messaging framed in religious and ideological terms. The material is said to have been circulated within church premises during congregational gatherings, a factor that significantly escalates the seriousness of the allegations given the legal prohibition on using religious platforms for electoral influence.
The pamphlets allegedly carried the names of three organisations: the Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council, the Tamil Nadu Christian Rights Movement, and the Tamil Nadu Christian Unity Council. While the complaint notes that the authenticity of the documents requires independent verification, it asserts that the content itself raises serious legal red flags.
A detailed review of the pamphlet, as cited in the complaint, highlights several contentious elements. These include direct criticism of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its policies, alongside messaging that portrays rival political formations particularly alliances led by the DMK in a more favourable light. The pamphlet reportedly warns that the continuation of a particular political ideology could reduce non-Hindus to “second-class citizens,” a statement the complainant argues is capable of instilling fear among minority voters and influencing electoral behaviour.
Further, the material allegedly frames the election as a battle between “communal” and “secular” forces, asserting that defeating the former is more important than determining the winner. It also includes direct appeals to the Christian community to vote collectively based on religious and ideological considerations, while cautioning against the “splitting of votes” and urging consolidation behind a specific ideological bloc.
The complaint argues that such messaging goes beyond political commentary and amounts to a targeted attempt to influence voters on religious grounds. It invokes Sections 123(3) and 123(3A) of the Representation of the People Act, which prohibit appeals to religion in elections and the promotion of enmity between communities. The structured nature of the messaging, its targeted audience, and its dissemination through places of worship are cited as aggravating factors.
A significant dimension of the complaint relates to foreign funding. The Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council is stated to be registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, with Registration No. 076040254, and is reportedly a recipient of substantial foreign contributions. The complaint argues that if any involvement of an FCRA-registered entity in the creation or distribution of the pamphlets is established, it could amount to a violation of provisions that bar the use of foreign funds for political purposes.
The complainant has urged the Election Commission to immediately investigate the origin, authorship, funding, and distribution network of the pamphlets. It has also sought identification of the role, if any, played by the named organisations and requested that the matter be referred to the Ministry of Home Affairs for a parallel probe under FCRA provisions. Preventive steps, including seizure of the material and directions to halt further circulation, have also been demanded.
The complaint warns that the issue is not an isolated incident but one with wider implications for electoral integrity and communal harmony. It argues that failure to act decisively could embolden similar practices and undermine confidence in the conduct of free and fair elections in the state.
This is serious. Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council is an FCRA-registered body (Regn. No. 076040254) receiving foreign funds.
Legal Rights Protection Forum has filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India regarding the alleged circulation of politically motivated pamphlets… https://t.co/JqPEw0tjqy
— Legal Rights Protection Forum (@lawinforce) April 19, 2026
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