Model Code of Conduct: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Guidelines for political campaigning in India}}

'''Election Commission of India's Model Code of Conduct''' is a set of guidelines issued by the [[Election Commission of India]] for conduct of [[Political party|political parties]] and [[Candidate|candidates]] during [[election]]s mainly with respect to speeches, [[Election|polling]] day, polling booths, portfolios,

The '''Model Code of Conduct''' is a set of guidelines issued by the [[Election Commission of India]] for the conduct of [[Political party|political parties]] and [[candidate]]s during [[election]]s.<ref>{{cite report|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/MCC-ENGLISH_28022014.pdf|title=Model Code of Conduct|access-date=3 April 2014|archive-date=7 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407100248/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/MCC-ENGLISH_28022014.pdf|url-status=dead }}</ref> It is a set of norms which deal with matters including meetings, processions, election manifestos, [[Election|polling]] and general conduct. It has been evolved with the consensus of political parties and helps to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections. The Model [[Code of conduct|Code of Conduct]] comes into force immediately on the announcement of the election schedule and remains in force till the end of the [[electoral process]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Announcement of Schedule for General Elections to Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha & Sikkim, 2019|url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/file/9396-announcement-of-schedule-for-general-elections-to-lok-sabha-and-legislative-assemblies-in-andhra-pradesh-arunachal-pradesh-odisha-sikkim-2019/|publisher=[[Election Commission of India]]|access-date=28 March 2019}}</ref>

of norms has been evolved with the consensus of political parties who have consented to abide by the principles embodied in the said code in its letter and spirit. The Model [[Code of conduct|Code of Conduct]] comes into force immediately on announcement of the election schedule by the commission for the need of ensuring free and fair elections.<ref>http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/MCC-ENGLISH_28022014.pdf</ref> Its main purpose is to ensure that ruling parties, at the Centre and in the States, do not misuse their position of advantage to gain an unfair edge. It is designed to avert practices which are deemed corrupt under model code of conduct . For example, politicians should not make hate speeches, putting one community against another or make promises about new projects that may sway a voter.

== History ==

For the [[2019 Indian general election]] the code came into force on 10 March 2019 when the Commission announced the dates and remains in force till the end of the [[electoral process]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Announcement of Schedule for General Elections to Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha & Sikkim, 2019 |url=https://eci.gov.in/files/file/9396-announcement-of-schedule-for-general-elections-to-lok-sabha-and-legislative-assemblies-in-andhra-pradesh-arunachal-pradesh-odisha-sikkim-2019/ |website=Election Commission of India |accessdate=28 March 2019}}</ref>

The birth of the Model Code of Conduct dates back to the [[1960 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|Assembly elections of Kerala in 1960]], during which the State administration drafted a 'Code of Conduct' for political actors. It was subsequently circulated by the [[Election Commission of India]] to all recognized [[List of political parties in India|political parties]] and State governments during the [[1962 Indian general election|Lok Sabha elections of 1962]], and it was wholeheartedly followed. It was the year [[1991 Indian general election|1991]] when the Election Commission decided to make more stringent use of the Model Code of Conduct following repeated election norms violation and continued corruption.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-03-16 |title=What's Model Code of Conduct? How it came into being and what's allowed and what's not |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/whats-model-code-of-conduct-how-it-came-into-being-and-whats-allowed-and-whats-not/articleshow/108545901.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-11-20 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref>

== Structure and features ==

==Highlights==

The mainmodel pointscode of theconduct codeconsists of seven sections which deal with general conduct, meetings, processions, party in power, polling booth, polling day and election manifestos.<ref>{{cite web report|title=Model Code of Conduct - ECI |url=https://eci.gov.in/mcc/ |websitepublisher=[[Election Commission of India ]]|access- MCC |accessdatedate=28 March 2019}}</ref> are:

;General conduct

# The government may not lay any new ground for projects or public initiatives once the Model Code of Conduct comes into force.

The section deals with general set of guidelines to be followed by the parties and candidates during the election process. It prohibits any discrimination, speeches or any references based on religion and refrains candidates or parties from criticizing others based on their personal private life or unsubstantiated allegations. The section bans all activities against law such as bribing, intimidation, impersonation etc. Parties shall also not create disturbances to other parties or candidates while campaigning.

#Government bodies are not to participate in any recruitment process during the [[Election|electoral process]].

# The contesting candidates and their campaigners must respect the home life of their rivals and should not disturb them by holding roadshows or demonstrations in front of their houses. The code tells the candidates to keep it away.

;Meetings

# The election campaign rallies and roadshows must not hinder the road traffic.

The section deals with the conduct of meetings. Meetings shall be conducted with prior permission from [[law enforcement]] agencies. It directs that any such guidelines and rules laid down by the law enforcement agencies shall be adhered to and permissions obtained from other governmental agencies if required such as for the use of [[loud speaker]]s.

# Candidates are asked to refrain from distributing liquor to voters. It is a widely known fact in India that during election campaigning, liquor may be distributed to the voters.

# The election code in force hinders the government or ruling party leaders from launching new [[Welfare|welfare programs]] like the construction of roads, provision of drinking water facilities, etc., or any ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

;Procession

# The code instructs that public spaces like meeting grounds, [[Helipad|helipads]], government guest houses, and [[Bungalow|bungalows]] should be equally shared among the contesting candidates. These public spaces should not be [[Monopoly|monopolized]] by a few candidates.

Processions organized by political parties shall be conducted with requisite permissions after communication of the required details such as time and place. The parties shall adhere to the plan approved and should not cause any hindrance to traffic or general public. It also bans the usage of undesirable articles and elements and activities such as burning of effigies by people participating in the processions.

# On polling day, all party candidates should cooperate with the poll-duty officials at the voting booths for an orderly voting process. Candidates should not display their election symbols near and around the poll booths on the polling day. No one should enter the booths without a valid pass from the [[Election Commission of India|Election Commission]].

# There will be poll observers to whom any complaints can be reported or submitted.

;Polling day

# The ruling party should not use its seat of power for campaign purposes.

The section deals with general set of guidelines to be followed by the parties and candidates during the polling day. Political parties and candidates are expected to co-operate with the officials to ensure fair and free conduct of elections. It refrains parties from disturbing the votes or polling process and bans the usage of party symbols, propaganda material and [[liquor]] near the polling booths.

# The ruling party ministers should not make any ''ad-hoc'' appointment of officials, which may influence the voters to vote in favor of the party in power.

# Before using loudspeakers during their poll campaigning, candidates and political parties must obtain permission or license from the local authorities. The candidates should inform the [[Municipal police|local police]] for conducting election [[Demonstration (protest)|rallies]] to enable the police authorities to make required security arrangements.

;Polling Booth

Any grievances shall be taken up only with the observer appointed by the Election Commission.

;Party in Power

The government or its constituents shall not exert influence on the election process. It also prescribes that official work and campaigning shall be kept separate and no official machinery should be used for campaigning. It also prohibits government from spending public money for propaganda. No schemes or grants should be launched by ministers directly or indirectly through authorities and no appointments/changes shall be made with respect to government personnel with a view to exert undue influence.

;Election Manifestos

The manifesto shall not contain any promises construed as against the law and the constitution. It also prohibits the release of manifestations in the period prescribed by the Election Commission.

==References==

{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Elections in India]]

[[Category:Codes of conduct]]

[[Category:Election campaign law]]

[https://eci.gov.in/mcc/ MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE GUIDANCE OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND CANDIDATES]