Election Commission of India advisory on 'surrogate' model code violations ahead of polls

These violations include 'state government(s) publishing their welfare schemes in the neighbouring poll-going states” and “luring registration for delivery of promises under non-existent schemes which is often akin to bribery of voters through false promises'

Pheroze L. Vincent, TT, New Delhi, 02.03.24 : The Election Commission of India on Friday highlighted “indirect/ surrogate” violations of the Model Code of Conduct, in its customary advisory to political parties and candidates ahead of the general election.

These violations include “state government(s) publishing their welfare schemes in the neighbouring poll-going states” and “luring registration for delivery of promises under non-existent schemes which is often akin to bribery of voters through false promises”.

While these are not new offences, the advisory reflects the poll panel’s recent actions and chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar’s use of persuasion to “arrest the plummeting political discourse”, an EC source said.

The list of surrogate violations includes:

The EC has increased the minimum age for home voting from 80 to 85.