Play fair says EC: Parties making tall promises on freebies in their election manifestos will have to explain the rationale of their pledges
New Delhi: In the run-up to the upcoming Lok Sabha election, the Election Commission has issued fresh guidelines asking political parties not to make tall promises on freebies that could disturb a level-playing field and vitiate the atmosphere or exert undue influence on voters.
Thus, parties making tall promises on freebies in their election manifestoes will now have to explain the rationale of their pledges and ways and means of meeting the financial requirements. “Votes should be sought only on those promises which are possible to be fulfilled,” the Election Commission said while issuing the guidelines after incorporating views of political parties during their meeting with them on February 7. The poll body included the guidelines in the Model Code of Conduct.
This move by the Election Commission to create a level-playing field before elections comes as per directions from the Supreme Court. The apex court had noted in its July 5, 2013 verdict that though promises in election manifesto cannot be construed as a corrupt practice as per law, the distribution of freebies of any kind “influences” all people.
“It shakes the root of free and fair elections to a large degree,” the apex court held, asking the poll body to ensure a level-playing field between contesting parties and candidates in elections and see that the sanctity of the election pr-ocess does not get vitiated.
In the new guidelines, the poll body has said that the manifesto should not contain anything repugnant to the ideals and principles enshrined in the Constitution and that it should be consistent with the letter and spirit of other provisions of the Model Code.
The Election Commission said that Directive Principles of the state policy enshrined in the Constitution enjoin upon the state to frame various welfare measures for citizens and, therefore, there can be no objection to the promise of such welfare measures in manifestoes.
“However, political parties should avoid making those promises which are likely to vitiate the sanctity of the election process or exert undue influence on the voters in exercising their franchise,” the Commission held.
( Source : dc )
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