The Election Commission of India (ECI) has drawn up a list of ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’ to be followed by political parties and contesting candidates till the completion of the process of General Election to Lok Sabha 2019.
Joint Chief Electoral Officer, Haryana Inder Jeet on Saturday said that these instructions must be strictly observed and followed by political parties and contesting candidates.
While referring to the Dos to be followed by political parties and contesting candidates, he said that to ensure a level playing field, public places like maidans and helipads must be available impartially to all parties and contesting candidates. He said that during elections, criticism of other political parties and candidates should be restricted only to their policies, programs, past records and works.
But, the right of every individual for peaceful and undisturbed home life should be fully safeguarded. The local police authorities should be fully informed and necessary permission be taken well in time, of the venue and time of the proposed meetings. The restrictive or prohibitory orders in force, if any, in the place of the proposed meeting, should be fully respected, he added.
Permission must be obtained for use of loudspeakers or any other such facilities for the proposed meetings. The time and place of the starting and termination of any procession and the route to be followed should be finalized in advance and prior permissions obtained from the police authorities. The passage of the procession must be without hindrance to traffic. He said that cooperation should be extended to all election officials to ensure peaceful and orderly poll.
The Joint Chief Electoral Officer said that restrictions on plying of vehicles during the campaign period and on poll day should be fully obeyed. He said that any complaint or problem regarding the conduct of elections should be brought to the notice of the Election Commission’s Observer, Returning Officer, Zonal or Sector Magistrate or Chief Electoral Officer/Election Commission of India.
The official said political parties should ensure that no payment in excess of Rs. 10,000 is made in cash, in a day, to any person, company or entity.
While referring to the Don’ts, he said that no official work should be mixed with campaigning or electioneering and no inducement, financial or otherwise, should be offered to the voter. Apart from this, no appeal on basis of caste or communal feelings of the electors and no activity which may aggravate differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes, communities, religious or linguistic groups, should be attempted. Similarly, political parties and contesting candidates would ensure that there is no use of temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras or any place of worship for election propaganda, including speeches, posters, music or electioneering.
He said that activities, which are corrupt practices or electoral offences such as bribery, undue influence, intimidation of voters, personation, canvassing within 100 meters of a polling station, holding of public meetings during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the close of the poll and conveyance of voters to and from polling stations, are prohibited. He said that demonstrations or picketing before house of any individual, by way of protesting against their opinion or activities should not be resorted to. In order to maintain purity of elections and bring transparency in the election process, political parties have been advised to avoid transactions in cash and instruct their office bearers, official, agents and candidates not to carry huge amount of cash during elections.
