Maharashtra Assembly Elections : Know the ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ of political parties and candidates during elections – Citizens can complain on C-Vigil App in case of violation of rules 

8th November 2024, (Odisha Tazanews) Pune : -> Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 has been announced and the actual election process has started. The Election Commission of India has laid down certain rules to ensure that elections are conducted in a fair and impartial environment.

These rules are called the ‘Code of Conduct’. The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer has informed that it is mandatory for all political parties and candidates to follow this code of conduct since the announcement of the elections. Since the code of conduct is more comprehensive, it has mentioned some important principles regarding ‘what to do’ and ‘what not to do’ by political parties and candidates during the election period. What to do during the code of conduct? Programs started before the announcement of the elections can be continued.

Relief work may be continued for the people in the areas affected by natural calamities like floods, droughts etc. Cash or other medical assistance may be provided to the dying or seriously ill. Criticism of other political parties and candidates should be related to their policies, past performance and work. Necessary permission should be obtained by giving sufficient advance notice of the place and time of the proposed meeting to the local police authorities. Permission to use loudspeakers or other facilities for the proposed meeting should be obtained and the rules for their use should be followed.

Police assistance should be sought to control persons creating obstacles and disrupting the peace during the meetings. The time and place of commencement and termination of the procession and the route along which it will pass should be fixed in advance and permission should be obtained from the police authorities for the same. The informal identity cards provided to the voters should be on plain (white) paper and should not have any mark, candidate name or party name on it. What should not be done during the model code of conduct? While following the model code of conduct during the election period, political parties and candidates are prohibited from making any advertisement about the performance of the ruling party/government at the expense of the government treasury.

No minister other than the candidate and the voter who has come to vote will be allowed to enter the polling booth or the counting place. Government work and election campaign/election campaigning should not be mixed. No one should criticize any aspect of the private life of leaders or workers of other parties that is not related to their public life. No one should take any action that will increase existing differences or create mutual hatred or tension between different castes, communities and religious or linguistic groups.

Places of worship of all religions should not be used for election campaign speeches, posters, music. Bribing voters, distribution of liquor, undue pressure or intimidation on voters, impersonation, campaigning within 100 meters of a polling station, holding public meetings within 48 hours of the time fixed for the closure of polling and arranging vehicles to transport voters to the polling station are prohibited. No obstruction should be created in the way of public meetings or processions organized by other political parties and candidates.

Processions should not be taken out from places where meetings of other parties are being held. Posters put up by other parties and candidates should not be removed or defaced. Also, posters, flags, signs and other campaign material should not be displayed at the place of distribution of identity cards or near the polling booth on the day of polling. The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer has appealed to citizens to file a complaint on the C-Vigil app through audio recording or video recording if they find that these principles of the code of conduct have been violated.