Lok Sabha election in Darjeeling on 18 April.... West Bengal votes on April 11, 18, 23, 29 and May 6,12, 19

KalimNews, 10 March 2019, Kalimpong: West Bengal will vote for Lok Sabha election in seven  phases. The dates are April 11, 18, 23, 29 and May 6,12, 19.

Elections in the parliamentary constituencies of North Bengal are having elections on 11, 18, and 23 April.  Election in Coochbehar and Alipurduar will be held on 11 April. In Darjeeling, Raiganj and  Jalpaiguri it will be held on 18 April while in Malda Uttar , Malda Dakshin, and Jangipur it  will be held on 23 April. 

With the announcement of dates, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has come into force and lays down a list of dos and don'ts for the political parties ahead of elections.

Lok Sabha Election in West Bengal:

Phase 1 (April 11) - 2 seats

Phase 2 (April 18) - 3 seats

Phase 2 (April 18) - 5 seats

Phase 4 (April 29) - 8 seats

Phase 5 (May 6) - 7 seats

Phase 6 (May 12) - 8 seats

Phase 7 (May 19) - 9 seats

State	Constituency	Poll Date	Phase
West Bengal	Cooch Behar	11-April      -14	8
West Bengal	Alipurduars	11-April      -14	8
West Bengal	Jalpaiguri	18-April      -14	8
West Bengal	Darjeeling	18-April      -14	8
West Bengal	Raiganj	18-April      -14	6
West Bengal	Balurghat	23-Apr       -14	6
West Bengal	Maldaha Uttar	23-Apr       -14	6
West Bengal	Maldaha Dakshin	23-Apr       -14	6
West Bengal	Jangipur	23-Apr       -14	6
West Bengal	Baharampur	29-April      -14	9
West Bengal	Murshidabad	23-April       -14	6
West Bengal	Krishnanagar	29-April      -14	9
West Bengal	Ranaghat	29-April      -14	9
West Bengal	Bangaon	06-May      -14	9
West Bengal	Barrackpore	06-May      -14	9
West Bengal	Dum Dum	19-May      -14	9
West Bengal	Barasat	19-May      -14	9
West Bengal	Basirhat	19-May      -14	9
West Bengal	Joynagar	19-May      -14	9
West Bengal	Mathurapur	19-May      -14	9
West Bengal	Diamond Harbour	19-May      -14	9
West Bengal	Jadavpur	19-May      -14	9
West Bengal	Kolkata Dakshin	19-May      -14	9
West Bengal	Kolkata Uttar	19-May      -14	9
West Bengal	Howrah	06-May       -14	7
West Bengal	Uluberia	06-May       -14	7
West Bengal	Srerampur	06-May       -14	7
West Bengal	Hooghly	06-May       -14	7
West Bengal	Arambagh	06-May       -14	7
West Bengal	Tamluk	12-May      -14	9
West Bengal	Kanthi	12-May      -14	9
West Bengal	Ghatal	12-May      -14	9
West Bengal	Jhargram	12-May      -14	8
West Bengal	Medinipur	12-May      -14	8
West Bengal	Purulia	12-May      -14	8
West Bengal	Bankura	12-May      -14	8
West Bengal	Bishnupur	12-May      -14	8
West Bengal	Bardhaman Purba	29-April       -14	7
West Bengal	Burdwan-Durgapur	29-April       -14	7
West Bengal	Asansol	29-May      -14	8
West Bengal	Bolpur	29-April       -14	7
West Bengal	Birbhum	29-April       -14	7

All you need to know about the Model Code of Conduct

The MCC includes a list of guidelines used for regulating political parties and their activities just ahead of elections. The rules not only apply to political speeches, polling day, polling booths, portfolios, rallies, general conduct and even contents of election manifestos.

The MCC first came to effect during state assembly elections in Kerala in 1960. It was formally introduced by the Election Commission in 1979 in a bid to regulate the party in power from gaining an undue advantage.

Restrictions

The MCC comprises of several provisions dealing with general conduct, meetings, rallies and public appearances, polling day, observers, polling booths, party in power and election manifestos.

As soon as the as the code kicks in, the party in power in both Centre and states should ensure that it does not abuse the official power handed to them for purposes of campaigning. Therefore, no policy, project or scheme can be announced after the MCC is implemented.

Worth mentioning that the party in power should also avoid advertising at the cost of public exchequer or using any form of the mass media for publicity or propaganda to improve chances of winning the election.

Additionally, the code bars ministers from combining official visits with election work or use official machinery for the same.

Further, no ruling party is allowed to use government transport or machinery for campaigning. It should also ensure that public places such as maidans and facilities such as helipads are provided to opposition parties at par with the party in power.

The government in power is also not allowed to make any impromptu appoints in government or public undertaking as it can influence the voters.

In fact, when any leader is criticising a political party or personality, it should only be based on their work; no communal act can be used to lure in new voters.

Besides, political parties are also not allowed to use places of religious importance or religion to promote election propaganda.

Any form of bribing, intimidating or impersonation of voters is also barred under the MCC. Holding any kind of public meeting two days before the end of poll is also prohibited. This 48-hour period is known as "election silence".

The MCC has evolved over time and is a strong tool used by the ECI to keep the process of conducting elections fair.

In case there is a breach of conduct, the ECI is allowed to send a notice to the concerned politician or party on its own or on the basis of a complaint by another party or individual (it could be anybody).

Once ECI issues a notice to the concerned party or individual, a written submission has to be given to either accept the mistake and tender an apology or reject the claim.

In the past, both the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress have accused each other of breaching the MCC.

The most prominent example in the recent past was during the Gujarat election in 2017 when both the parties blamed each other for violating provisions under the MCC. It remains to be seen whether a similar episode is repeated this time around.