Assembly elections date announced, 'Model Code of Conduct' comes into immediate effect

"The Model Code of Conduct comes into immediate effect with the announcement of dates," the CEC said announcing that the Commission is deploying adequate general observers, police observers, expenditure observers and awareness observers to ensure free and fair polls.

The Election Commission today announced that the assembly polls in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Mizoram will be held from November 11, for which the counting will take place on December 8.

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"The Model Code of Conduct comes into immediate effect with the announcement of dates," the CEC said announcing that the Commission is deploying adequate general observers, police observers, expenditure observers and awareness observers to ensure free and fair polls.

What is Model Code of Conduct?

Here are some excerpts from the model code of conduct for the guidance of political parties and candidates issued by the Election Commission of India. These are mandatory rules that has to be followed by every party contensting in the elections.

General Conduct

No party or candidate shall include in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic.

Meetings

A Party or candidate shall ascertain in advance if there is any restrictive or prohibitory order in force in the place proposed for the meeting if such orders exist, they shall be followed strictly. If any exemption is required from such orders, it shall be applied for and obtained well in time.

Procession

The carrying of effigies purporting to represent member of other political parties or their leaders, burning such effigies in public and such other forms demonstration shall not be countenanced by any political party or candidate.

Polling Day

Refrain from serving or distributing liquor on polling day and during the fourty eight hours preceding it.

Polling Booth

Excepting the voters, no one without a valid pass from the Election Commission shall enter the polling booths.

Party in Power

Rest houses, dark bungalows or other Government accommodation shall not be monopolized by the party in power or its candidates and such accommodation shall be allowed to be used by other parties and candidates in a fair manner but no party or candidate shall use or be allowed to use such accommodation (including premises appertaining thereto) as a campaign office or for holding any public meeting for the purposes of election propaganda.

(With inputs from Election Commission of India website)

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