Representative Image
Lok Sabha Election 2019 will be held in 7 phases, the Election Commission of India has announced. With this the Model Code of Conduct, a set of guidelines laid down by the Election Commission of India for conduct of political parties and candidates during elections, comes into effect from today. It is aimed at ensuring free and fair elections. The EC traces its introduction to the 1960 Assembly elections in Kerala. The code comes into force on the announcement of the poll schedule and remains operational till the process is concluded, as provided in the notification.
Here's the Model Code of Conduct:
1. No party or candidate shall indulge in any activity which may create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities.
2. Parties and Candidates shall refrain from criticism of other parties or their workers based on unverified allegations or distortion.
3. The Party or candidate shall inform the local police authorities of the venue and time any proposed meeting well in time so as to enable the police to make necessary arrangements for controlling traffic and maintaining peace and order.
4. On the polling day, all political parties and candidates shall co-operate with the officers on election duty to ensure peaceful and orderly polling and complete freedom to the voters to exercise their franchise without being subjected to any annoyance or obstruction.
5. Parties should refrain from serving or distributing liquor or money on polling day and during the twenty-four hours preceding it.
6. Except the voters , no one without a valid pass from the Election Commission shall enter the polling booths.
7. From the time elections are announced by the Commission, Ministers and other authorities shall not announce any financial grants in any form or promises or lay foundation stones etc. of projects or schemes of any kind
8. Ministers shall not make any ad-hoc appointments in Government, Public Undertakings etc. which may have the effect of influencing the voters in favour of the party in power.
9. Ministers of Central or State Government shall not enter any polling station or place of counting except in their capacity as a candidate or voter or authorised agent.
