Model Code of Conduct

 

Model Code of Conduct

About:

*       The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the ECI to regulate political parties and candidates prior to elections.

*       It helps EC in keeping with the mandate it has been given under Article 324 of the Constitution, which gives it the power to supervise and conduct free and fairelections to the Parliament and State Legislatures.

*       The MCC is operational from the date on which the election schedule is announced until the date of the result announcement.

MCC for Political Parties and Candidates:

Prohibitions:

*       Criticism of political parties must be limited to their policies and programmes, past record, and work.

*       Activities such as using caste and communal feelings to secure votes, criticizing candidates on the basis of unverified reports, bribing or intimidation of voters, etc. are prohibited.

Meetings:

*       Parties must inform the local police authorities of the venue and time of any meeting in time to enable the police to make adequate security arrangements.

Processions:

*       If two or more candidates plan processions along the same route, the political parties must establish contact in advance to ensure that the processions do not clash.

*       Carrying and burning effigies representing members of other political parties is not allowed.

Polling Day:

*       Only voters and those with a valid pass from the EC are allowed to enter polling booths.

*       All authorized party workers at polling booths should be given suitable badges or identity cards.

*       Identity slips supplied by them to voters shall be on plain (white) paper and shall not contain any symbol, name of the candidate or the name of the party.

Observers:

*       The EC will appoint observers to whom any candidates may report problems regarding the conduct of the election.

Party in Power:

*       The MCC incorporated certain restrictions in 1979, regulating the conduct of the party in power. Ministers must not combine official visits with election work or use official machinery for the same.

*       The party must avoid advertising at the cost of the public exchequer or using official mass media for publicity on achievements to improve chances of victory in the elections.

*       From the time elections are announced by Commission, the ministers and other authorities must not announce any financial grants, or promise any construction of roads, provision of drinking water, etc. Other parties must be allowed to use public spaces and rest houses, and these must not be monopolized by the party in power.

Election Manifestos:

*       The ECI directs that political parties and candidates must adhere to the following guidelines while releasing election manifestos for any election (Parliament/State Legislatures):

*       The election manifesto shall not contain anything against the ideals and principles enshrined in the Constitution.

*       Political parties should avoid making promises that are likely to vitiate the purity of the election process or exert undue influence on voters.

*       Manifestos should reflect the rationale for promises and broadly indicate the ways and means to meet the financial requirements for it.

*       Manifestos shall not be released during the prohibitory period, as prescribed under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act 1951, for single or multi-phase elections.

Some Recent Additions to the MCC:

*       The regulation of opinion polls and exit polls during the period notified by the ECI.

*       The prohibition of advertisements in print media on polling day and one day prior to it unless the contents are pre-certified by screening committees.

*       The restriction on government advertisements featuring political functionaries during the election period.