Port Blair, Mar 15: The Election Commission of India has declared the Elections to the Lok Sabha Parliamentary Constituency of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, vide Press Notification dated the 10th March 2019. Under the provisions contained in Representation of Peoples Act, 1951, all the political parties and contesting candidates have been requested to strictly follow all the norms of Model Code of Conduct.
MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT BY POLITICAL PARTIES/CANDIDATES
No party or candidate shall include in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic.
Criticism of other political parties, when made, shall be confined to their policies and programme, past record and work. Parties and Candidates shall refrain from criticism of all aspects of private life, not connected with the public activities of the leaders or workers of other parties. Criticism of other parties or their workers based on unverified allegations or distortion shall be avoided.
There shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes. Mosques, Churches, Temples or other places of worship shall not be used as forum for election propaganda.
All parties and candidates shall avoid scrupulously all activities which are “corrupt practices” and offences under the election law, such as bribing of voters, intimidation of voters, impersonation of voters, canvassing within 200 meters of polling stations, holding public meetings during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the close of the poll, and the transport and conveyance of voters to and from polling station.
The right of every individual for peaceful and undisturbed home-life shall be respected, however much the political parties or candidates may resent his political opinions or activities. Organizing demonstrations or picketing before the houses of individuals by way of protesting against their opinions or activities shall not be resorted to under any circumstances.
Political parties and candidates shall ensure that their supporters do not create obstructions in or break up meetings and processions organised by other parties. Workers or sympathisers of one political party shall not create disturbances at public meetings organised by another political party by putting questions orally or in writing or by distributing leaflets of their own party.
All advertisement for telecasting on TV channels and cable networks by any political parties must be viewed, scrutinized and certified by Monitoring Committee on Media Certification (MCMC).
All political parties should try to avoid the use of plastic/polythene for preparation of posters, banners etc. during election campaign.
Any and all advertisements at the cost of the public exchequer regarding achievements of the party/Government in power are prohibited.
No inducement, financial or otherwise, shall be offered to the voter.
Race/caste/communal/religious/ language feelings of the electors shall not be appealed to. (Section 125, RP Act 1951)
No activity, which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes, communities or religious or linguistic groups shall be attempted.
No aspect of the private life, not connected with the public activities, of the leaders or workers of other parties shall be permitted to be criticized.
Processionists shall not carry any articles, which are capable of being misused as missiles or weapons.
Loudspeakers whether static or mounted on moving vehicles shall not be used either before 6 a.m. or after 10 p.m. and without the prior written permission of the authorities concerned.
Distribution of liquor or bribery in any form is prohibited during elections.
Hiring/procuring/use of vehicles for free conveyance of voters is corrupt practice.
Permit for vehicles to be used for electioneering shall be issued by DM/RO and must be affixed on the vehicles.
No vehicle except with permit will be allowed for use
All Political Parties/Candidates are advised to strictly follow the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Prevention of Defacement of Property Regulation, 1987.