What conduct shall party in power have during elections?
Q. Which of the following is/are true?
1) The Ministers can combine their official visit with electioneering work.
2) Civil Servants can lay foundation stones etc., of projects or schemes when election code of conduct is in place.- Published on 17 Mar 17a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWER: Only 2
- Excepting the voters, no one without a valid pass from the Election Commission shall enter the polling booths.
Conduct of Party in Power -
a. The party in power whether at the centre or in the state or states concerned, shall ensure that no cause is given for any complaint that it has used its official position for the purposes of its election campaign and in particular -
1. The Ministers shall not combine their official visit with electioneering work and shall not also make use of official machinery or personnel during the electioneering work.
2. Government transport including official air-crafts, vehicles, machinery and personnel shall not be used for furtherance of theinterest of the party in power.
b. Public places such as maidans etc., for holding election meetings, and use of helipads for air-flights in connection with elections shall not be monopolized by itself.
c. Other parties and candidates shall be allowed the use of such places and facilities on the same terms and conditions on which they are used by the party in power.
d. Rest houses, dak bungalows or other Government accommodation shall not be monopolized by the party in power or its candidates and such accommodation shall be allowed to be used by other parties and candidates in a fair manner.
e. But no party or candidate shall use or be allowed to use such accommodation (including premises appertaining thereto) as a campaign office or for holding any public meeting for the purposes of election propaganda.
f. 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.
g. Ministers and other authorities shall not sanction grants/payments out of discretionary funds from the time elections are announced by the Commission.
h. From the time elections are announced by the Commission, ministers and other authorities shall not -
1. Announce any financial grants in any form or promises thereof.
2. (Except civil servants) lay foundation stones etc., of projects or schemes of any kind.
3. Make any promise of construction of roads, provision of drinking water facilities etc.
4. Make any ad-hoc appointments in government, public undertakings etc., which may have the effect of influencing the voters in favor of the party in power.
i. The Commission shall announce the date of any election which shall be a date ordinarily not more than three weeks prior to the date on which the notification is likely to be issued in respect of such elections.
j. Ministers of Central or State Governments shall not enter any polling station or place of counting except in their capacity as a candidate or voter or authorized agent.
