Election And The Model Of Conduct

By Author: Srishti Janpratinidhi
Total Articles: 52
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The Election Commission of India is implementing rigorously the model code of conduct. It is taking every step to promote the code of conduct among the candidates for a free and fair election. It has set up a helpline number to foster this very cause.

The Election Commission of India stated December 4 as the day when the city will go to polls following which the chief electoral officer set up groups of enforcement officers in assembly constituencies to get hold of violators of the model code of conduct. Anyone carrying more than 50,000 thousand rupees can be penalized for luring the electors on the polling day. Delhi Chief Electoral Officer asked the people not to carry cash of the said amount for fear of being misconstrued by the enforcement officers as anyone and everyone can be checked during the electoral process.

Monitoring expenditure for the polls have begun and therefore the appeal to people by the Delhi CEO is a measure to sensitize the common people of the electoral procedures and codes of conduct. Advertisement and hoarding have ...
... been initiated to speed up the awareness process. Political parties have been briefed to ensure full compliance.

Printing presses have been severely scrutinized for violations of the poll principles. More than five printing presses have been sealed following non-compliance of election norms of putting their print lines on hoardings and posters. Few FIRs have also been lodged against the owners of the printing presses. The law directs the names and addresses of the printers and publishers be clearly stated on the poll posters, hoarding and other election materials. The rise of unlicensed printing presses and the growing circulation of inflammatory materials around election time is a big concern for the election commission.

The Delhi Defacement of Public Property Act is being implemented rigorously and all illegal posters, hoardings and publicity material have been removed from the public domain. With the code of conduct coming into effect, the state cannot launch any schemes for mass distribution of freebies like TVs and laptops to the lure the voters.

The CEO's office is operating the toll free helpline number 1800-111-400 at which the public can call and report violations of the model code of conduct. Election enforcement groups are on the move in each of the constituencies to constantly monitor the strict adherence to the model of conduct by candidates.

These teams are made up of officials and police. Separate teams are formed to track all the major political events by parties and record them on video to ensure that guidelines monitoring expenditure are strictly followed.

Janpratinidhi.com provides for a section on its website The Printed Media World where one can read all the important news pertaining to election, leaders and constituency news. The world may speak through internet but print media is still the most potent symbol of a free media, a symbol of freedom of speech. Go through the headlines and views expressed in the print media of the country and accordingly like/dislike them.