EC's Directives for Enforcing Model Code of Conduct in Upcoming State Legislative Assembly Elections

The Election Commission of India has issued a set of directives to ensure the effective enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) following the announcement of General Elections to the State Legislative Assemblies of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, and Telangana in 2023. This code comes into effect immediately upon the Commission's election announcement. The key directives include: 1. **Defacement of Property:** Strict actions to prevent defacement of government property, public property, and private property. Unauthorized political advertisements must be removed within 24, 48, and 72 hours, respectively, from the election announcement. 2. **Misuse of Official Vehicles:** A total ban on the use of official vehicles by any political party or candidate for election-related purposes, with certain exceptions. 3. **Advertisement at the Cost of Public Exchequer:** Avoiding partisan coverage of political news and achievements in electronic and print media at the cost of public funds. Immediate removal and cessation of such advertisements are required. 4. **Photograph of Political Functionaries:** Removal of references to ministers, politicians, or political parties from central/state government official websites. 5. **Development/Construction Activities:** A list of ongoing and fresh construction activities must be obtained within 72 hours of the election announcement for reference in case of MCC violations. 6. **Expenditure Monitoring and MCC Enforcement:** Activation of flying squads, video teams, and checks for prohibited substances. 7. **Complaint Monitoring System:** Establishment of a complaint redressal mechanism through a website and call center, operational within 24 hours of the announcement. 8. **IT Application:** All IT applications, including official websites and social media, must be operational immediately. 9. **Voter Awareness and Publicity:** Dissemination of election-related information through various media channels, educational institutions, and civil societies. 10. **Media Center:** Raising awareness about the election system, including the use of EVMs and VVPATs, through a dedicated media center. 11. **Media Certification and Monitoring Committees (MCMC):** All registered political parties must seek pre-certification for their political advertisements on electronic media from the MCMC. 12. **Control Room:** Activation of 24x7 control rooms at the district and state levels, with manpower and logistics deployment, as well as a control room at the ECI Secretariat during the entire election process. These directives are crucial for maintaining a level playing field and ensuring fair elections in the mentioned states. The Election Commission emphasizes the importance of immediate and strict compliance with these instructions to enforce the Model Code of Conduct effectively.