EC issues advisory to political Parties and Campaigners to exercise caution during campaigning

The Election Commission yesterday issued an advisory to all National and State Parties candidates and all Star Campaigners to exercise caution and restraint in their utterances during campaigning and not to vitiate the election atmosphere. The Commission issued this advisory in view of plummeting levels of campaign discourse in the ongoing General Election to Karnataka Legislative Assembly. ECI directed Chief Electrol Officers to comply with advisory and initiate appropriate and timely action as per extant regulatory and legal framework.

 

In its advisory, ECI stated that it is imperative for all parties and stakeholders to remain within the confines of the Model Code of Conduct and the legal framework in their utterances while campaigning. The commission said that it is



to maintain the dignity of the political discourse and not to vitiate the campaign and the election atmosphere. 

The Commission noted that National Parties and Star Campaigners enjoy extra enablements within the Representation of the People Act.  ECI has invited the attention of the political parties to the provisions of Model Code of Conduct and other statutory provisions which hold the field and fix the framework of the expected campaign discourse.

 

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal welcomed the ECI's decision. He claimed that Congress party is losing polls of Karnataka Legislative Assembly which is why it is making objectionable statements and baseless announcements.