Model Code of Conduct: Difference between revisions

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

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 speeches, 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>

== History ==

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 ==

The model code of conduct consists of seven sections which deal with general conduct, meetings, processions, party in power, polling booth, polling day and election manifestos.<ref>{{cite report|title=Model Code of Conduct|url=https://eci.gov.in/mcc/|publisher=[[Election Commission of India]]|access-date=28 March 2019}}</ref>

;General conduct

The section deals with general set of guidelines to be followed by the parties and candidates during the election process. It prohibits any discrimination, incitementspeeches or speechesany references based on religion, linguistics or castes 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, unlawful occupation of private property or disturbance to publicetc. Parties shall also not create disturbances to other parties or candidates while campaigning.

;Meetings

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;Party in Power

The section deals with the conduct of the ruling party when the elections are in progress. The government or its constituents shall not disturb or exert influence on the election process. It also prescribes that official work and campaigning shall be kept separate and no official machinery or personnel should be used for campaigning. It also prohibits government from spending public money for propaganda. No schemes or grants should be announced or 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 section was framed as per directions from the [[Supreme Court of India]] and deals with the election manifestos by the political parties. 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==