The Model Code of Conduct will come into force immediately on the announcement of the election schedule by the Election Commission. The Election Commission of India’s Model Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines for the conduct of political parties and candidates during elections.
This set of norms has evolved with the consensus of political parties who consent to abide by the code in its letter and spirit. The purpose of the Model Code of Conduct is to ensure that ruling parties do not misuse their power to gain an unfair advantage.
The general rules embodied in the Model Code of Conduct are:
- The government may not lay any new ground for projects or public initiatives once the poll code comes into force
- Government bodies are not to participate in any recruitment process during the electoral process
- The contesting candidates and their campaigners must respect the home life of their rivals and should not disturb them by holding roadshows or demonstrations in front of their houses
- The election campaign rallies and roadshows must not hinder the road traffic
- Political parties and candidates should refrain from any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic or otherwise
- Candidates are asked to refrain from distributing liquor to voters
- The election code in force hinders the government or ruling party leaders from launching new welfare programmes
- The code instructs that public spaces such as meeting grounds, helipads, government guest houses, and bungalows should be equally shared among the contesting candidates
- On polling day, all party candidates should cooperate with the poll-duty officials at the voting booths for an orderly voting process
- Candidates should not display their election symbols near and around the poll booths on the polling day
- There will be poll observers to whom any complaints can be reported or submitted
- The ruling party should not use its seat of power for campaign purposes
- The ruling party ministers should not make any ad-hoc appointments of officials, which may influence the voters to vote in favour of the party in power
- Before using loudspeakers during their poll campaigning, candidates and political parties must obtain permission or license from the local authorities
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