Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is the guidelines
which are drafted by the Election Commission of India to provide an
equal level play field for all the political parties during the election
times.
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| Model Code of Conduct in Indian Elections |
In India election time is the gala time for the political
parties who try to woo the voters at the best to get to the ruling chair. It is
difficult in India as India is a land of different languages, caste, creed,
colour, religion, ethnic groups, etc. At the time of elections the political
parties play all the cards to capture most of votes.
There are abuses which are hailed at each other during the
process of campaigning. All are aware about this process; wherein the
politicians forget prestige and honour and above all humanity; uses every
adjective to cut the opponent to size and brag about false promises. This was going in for a long time in India. But thanks to T.
N. Seshan who introduced the Election Commission of India as a muscle man who
was wholly responsible for fair election. MCC is enforced in the State just
after the announcement of the election date. It is to restrain the politicians
to follow unlawful means to campaign, use of hate speeches against other contestants,
planning of processions, party rallies, etc.
The most important factor of the MCC is to keep a
check on the ruling political party from restraining to campaign for elections by
the means of power which is vested in them. The ruling political party cannot
use the government machinery, publish advertisements, promote policies, etc to
woo the voters after the enforcement of MCC. There is a guideline which
has been issued by the Election Commission and all the political parties have
to abide the same or else they might fall in problem.
Now as the time for election in 5 States of India (Uttar
Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur) is in progress Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP)-which is in the center, at present- is using the
government machinery to woo the voters. Today (31-1-2017) the Business
Standard (daily newspaper) had printed an advertisement of the Ministry
of Commerce and Industry and Department of Industrial Policy and
Promotion (copy attached) propagating the Make In India policy
of the government and its achievement, which according to guideline of Model
Code of Conduct; point VII (Party in Power) sub point IV is clear violation
of the conduct. The guideline is as under:
“(iv) Issue of advertisement at the cost of public exchequer in the newspapers and other media and the misuse of official mass media during the election period for partisan coverage of political news and publicity regarding achievements with a view to furthering the prospects of the party in power shall be scrupulously avoided.”
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| Make in India advertisement in Business Standard 31 Jan 2017 |