The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday drew 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 2024 in Haryana. 

Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Agarwal said that political parties and candidates are advised to follow the guidelines and cooperate in conducting the elections in a free, fair and peaceful manner in the State.

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. During elections, criticism of other political parties and candidates should be restricted only to their policies, programs, past records, and works. With this, the right of every individual for peaceful and undisturbed home life should be fully safeguarded, he added.

Agarwal further said that the local police authorities should be fully informed and necessary permission is 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. The permission must be obtained for use of loudspeakers or any other such facilities for the proposed meetings and police assistance should be taken from the police authorities, in case of any disturbance and untoward incident caused by any person.

 He said that 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.

 The Chief Electoral Officer said that cooperation should be extended to all election officials to ensure peaceful and orderly voting. He said that all political workers engaged in elections have to show their badges or identity cards given to them by their parties. The informal identity slip issued to the voters should be on plain (white) paper and on which there should be no mention of any name, party symbol or the name of the candidate on it.

 Agarwal said that restrictions on plying of vehicles during the campaign period and on the poll day should be fully obeyed and 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.

While referring to the Don’ts, Agarwal 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 the 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.

 He said that to maintain purity of elections and bring transparency in the process of elections, political parties are advised to avoid transactions in cash and instruct their office bearers, officials, agents and candidates not to carry huge amounts of cash during elections. No disturbances shall be created in public meetings or processions organized by other political parties or candidates and the posters issued by other parties and candidates shall not be removed or defaced. No use of loudspeakers, whether static or mounted on moving vehicles, between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am, the CEO added.