The Punjab State Election Commission has issued instructions for proper implementation of the model code of conduct for the July 3 gram panchayat elections.
Stating this on Thursday, a commission spokesperson said that anyone could lodge a complaint of code violation against any candidate or political party before election observers. He said the district electoral officer or the deputy commissioner and the police had been authorised to initiate prosecution against violation of the code of conduct before competent criminal courts.
The spokesman said the code would be applicable to political parties, contesting candidates, ministers, employees of the state government and local bodies and other public servants connected with local bodies' elections. He said no party or candidate shall indulge in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic.