- The Election Commission (EC) has imposed restrictions on the campaigning of four senior politicians for violating the model code of conduct in Uttar Pradesh.
- The restrictions on campaigning also prevent them from giving interviews or making any comment on the electronic, print or social media in connection with the upcoming Lok Sabha election.
- One of the politicians has had violated the provisions of the model code as laid down in Para 3 and 4 of Part-1 of the ‘General Conduct’ section. Para 3 says that there should not be appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes.
- According to provisions of para 4, all activities which are “corrupt practices” and offences under the Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act , such as bribing of voters, intimidation of voters, etc. amounts to violation of the model code of conduct.
- In 2017, the Supreme Court had held that an appeal for votes during elections on the basis of religion, caste, race, community or language will amount to a corrupt practice and had called for disqualification of the candidate.
- Further, another senior politician has been barred from political campaigning for his indecent comments on a woman candidate. In 2013, the EC had issued an advisory stating that all the political parties and candidates had been told to refrain from any actions repugnant to the honour and dignity of women.
- Model code of Conduct (MCC) are the guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India for conduct of political parties and candidates during elections. The MCC comes into force immediately on the announcement of the election schedule by the commission. The Code remains in force till the end of the electoral process.
