ITANAGAR, Mar 16: With the announcement of the schedule for the general elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into immediate effect in the poll-bound states and Union Territory.
The Commission has issued directions to the chief secretaries and chief electoral officers of the respective states and UT to ensure strict enforcement of the code. The MCC will also apply to the Central Govt with regard to announcements or policy decisions concerning these states and the Union Territory.
The Commission directed authorities to ensure strict compliance with rules related to removal of defacement from government, public and private properties, and to prevent misuse of official vehicles, government accommodation or public funds for election campaigning.
It also emphasised that the privacy of citizens must be respected and no demonstrations or picketing should be held outside private residences. Flags, banners or posters should not be placed on private properties without the owner’s consent.
A complaint monitoring system has been put in place, including the call centre number 1950, through which members of the public or political parties can lodge complaints with the concerned district election officer or returning officer.
Citizens and political parties can also report MCC violations through the C-Vigil mobile application available on ECINET. To ensure prompt response to complaints, more than 5,173 flying squads and over 5,200 static surveillance teams have been deployed across the poll-bound states and UT.
The Commission further directed political parties to inform police authorities in advance about meetings and processions to facilitate traffic management and security arrangements, and to obtain necessary permissions for the use of loudspeakers and other facilities.
Ministers have also been barred from combining official duties with election campaigning or using government machinery, transport or personnel for political purposes.
Officials at all levels have been instructed to enforce the MCC impartially, regulate meetings and processions fairly, and ensure that law and order is maintained during the electoral process.