Model Code of conduct

WHAT IS THE MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT?

The Election Commission of India releases certain guidelines and rules for campaigning the Election to conduct the fair elections. These guidelines remain effective until the Election process is over.
In other words, Model Code of Conduct is the guidelines laid up by the election commission which has to be followed by the political parties and the candidates in the run-up to an election.

WHAT IS THE NEED FOR SUCH CODE OF CONDUCT?

The model code of Conduct is applied to check the unfair means and practices that happen during the elections. Its main aim is that the current ruling party either in state or center does not use its position and misuse its power to gain the advantage in the Election. It is also much needed to control the conflicts that prevail in the elections.

WHEN DOES IT COME INTO FORCE?

The model code of conduct immediately comes into force when the date of an election is announced and remains until the Whole Election process is over.

WHAT IS THE GENERAL CONDUCT WHICH THE POLITICAL PARTIES AND CANDIDATES HAVE TO FOLLOW?

1. The Political Parties or candidates should not secure votes on the basis of the caste and religion which means that temples, mosques, churches and other religious places should not be used for election campaigning.
2. Political parties should not be involved in any such activity which leads to hatred and tension among the people. 
3. Though political parties have the right to criticize the policies and programs they should refrain themselves from commenting on the personal life or family of the candidate. 
4. Any Political party or the candidate cannot threaten the voters, give bribe in the periphery of 100 meters from polling booths. 
5. Political parties cannot use the land, building, compound, wall, the vehicle without the permission of the property owner for passing pamphlets, banners, displaying party flags, writing slogans etc. 
6. Political parties should ensure that their supporters neither obstruct the meeting and rally of the opposition parties or candidates nor distribute pamphlets in the meeting organized by the opposition parties. 
7. Political parties should seek prior permission from the police of the concerned area before organizing the meeting at any place so that traffic and other arrangements can be done. 
8. Government bodies cannot participate in any recruitment process during the electoral process. 
9. The Political parties or the candidates are refrained from distributing liquor to the voters. 
10. On the polling day, all party candidates should cooperate with the polling-duty officials at the voting booths. Candidates should not display their election symbols near and around the poll booths on the polling day. 
11. For using the loudspeakers during their poll campaigning, candidates and the political parties should seek permission from the local authorities. 
12. The ruling parties should not use government machinery like government employees, vehicles, government buildings during election campaigning 
13. No advertisement will be published or displayed at the cost of public exchequer through newspapers & other media during the election. Other media will also not be used to disseminate the achievements of the government. 
14. The ministers and other government officials shall not grant out of the discretionary fund from the date elections are announced by the commission. 

NARENDRA MODI TO RAHUL GANDHI WHO VIOLATED THE FROM THE MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT?

• Narendra Modi, the then prime Ministerial, on April 30, 2014, in Ahmedabad Gujrat, violated the model code of conduct by displaying his symbol “lotus” and then addressing media near the polling booth after casting his vote. The Election Commission issued an order to lodge an FIR against Modi for violating the model code of conduct.
• Congress minister Rahul Gandhi was also criticized by the poll party in December 2017 When he gave television interviews a day before the final phase of voting in Gujarat. The Gujarat minister was asked to file FIR against Rahul Gandhi and Gandhi was asked to explain his conduct.