What is the Model Code of Conduct? Election Commission dos and donts for parties and candidates for the period after polls are announced. It has instructions on holding meetings, organising processions and the conduct of parties on polling days. It comes into force immediately after election announcement. What are its main features? The code prohibits parties and candidates from indulging in activities that can cause tension between people of regions, castes, communities or religions. Mosques, churches, temples or other places of worship should not be used for election propaganda. Parties must ensure their supporters do not obstruct functions other parties organize. Removal of another partys poster is considered a code violation. It disallows comments on private lives of leaders or workers of other parties. No party or candidate is permitted to use any individuals land, building, compound wall etc without permission, to erect flag-staffs, suspend banners, paste notices, write slogans etc. Voters are not to be intimidated or bribed to vote for a party or candidate. What are the restrictions on ruling party? The code ensures a party in power, at Centre or in state, cannot use official machinery or personnel for electioneering. This means use of government transport, official aircraft and other vehicles, for poll campaign is barred. Poll-related advertisement at the cost of public money and misuse of official mass media for coverage of political news and publicity is not allowed. The code ensures other parties get equal opportunity to hold election meetings at public places and use public infrastructure like helipads and government guest house for election. Cant the ruling party manipulate elections taking populist decisions? From the day an election is announced, the code prohibits ministers from sanctioning grants and related payments out of discretionary funds. Ministers and politicians are barred from laying foundation stones of new projects. Ad-hoc appointments in government or PSUs disallowed. What steps must a party take to organize a procession? Mandatory for every party and candidate to inform police and local authorities before organizing any procession to ensure security measures are taken and steps needed to control traffic and maintain law and order. Party must provide procession route map. No deviation from route is allowed. Parties are not allowed to carry or burn effigies of leaders of other parties in procession. The code for polling day? Every party must issue badges and I-cards to authorized workers. Unnecessary crowd outside candidates camp is prohibited, as it can lead to a clash between contesting parties. No food or refreshment can be served to voters. The code mandates no distribution of liquor on polling day or 24 hours before the polls.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 13:21:27 +0000
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