Election Commission acts swiftly on violations ahead of Lok Sabha polls
Election Commission directed the central and state governments to remove unauthorised political advertisements from public spaces. On March 20, the Commission, following reports of non-compliance, asked for confirmation of full compliance by 5 pm the next day. This would suggest the narrow window and urgency that election managers had, that other stakeholders may fail to appreciate.
Fast Action
On March 18, the EC transferred the home secretaries of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and the Director General of Police in West Bengal. Several DMs and SPs belonging to four states were transferred on March 21. One witnessed a spate of such transfers during the recent series of five assembly elections.
The Critical Code
These directives mark the coming into effect of the model code of conduct (MCC). In six decades of its existence, the code constructed by the consent of political parties, has become the face of the conduct of elections. Some provisions may have the backing of the law. The code exercises moral authority to keep campaign behaviour on track. Often, the EC is judged by the way it enforces this code.
Besides spelling out the desired conduct for parties and candidates, and seeking to stop hate speeches, caste or religious appeals, criticism of private life, the code stipulates conduct for meetings, processions, and polling days. It now includes guidelines on election manifestoes, asking for more credible promises after concerns over freebies.
Levelling the Field
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