The Model Code of Conduct in Telengana

The Election Commission of India on Thursday directed all states and union territories to implement the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in the event of premature dissolution of the legislative assemblies. With the release of the notice by the EC, the MCC will be enforced in Telangana, effective immediately.

 

The K Chandrashekar Rao led Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government dissolved the state Legislative Assembly on September 6, and has been continuing as a caretaker government. The elections in Telangana will most likely be held along with elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisghar in December.

 

Issued by the Election Commission of India, the MCC is a set of guidelines to regulate the conduct of political parties and their candidates in the run to elections.

 

The EC through their notice has directed that “MCC would come into effect in the cases of premature dissolution of Legislative Assembly where a caretaker government has been asked to carry on the administration of that State/UT for the purposes of free, fair, transparent, and robust electoral process,”. 

 

The EC has pointed out that the caretaker government should merely carry on the day-to-day activities of a government and desist from taking any major policy situation decisions.

 

The MCC will be in force until the completion of the election to constitute the new Legislative Assembly. 

 

With the MCC in place, caretaker governments will not be allowed to announce any new schemes, projects etc nor will the centre be allowed to come out with schemes aimed at states where the elections are to be held.

 

Prohibitions have been set on the use of official resources for non-official purposes, combining of an official visit with electioneering work, etc. This shall apply on all Ministers and other authorities of the caretaker State Government, the Central Government as well as Governments of other states, read the EC notice.