Why in News?

In a first, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a notice for violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) on the basis of complaints against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

However, taking a circuitous route, the notice was sent to BJP President, and not to PM Modi.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• What is the Model Code of Conduct (MCC)?
• What Activities Are Prohibited After Implementation of MCC?
• News Summary Regarding the Recent Unprecedented Move of the ECI

What is the Model Code of Conduct (MCC)?

• The MCC for the guidance of political parties and candidates is a set of norms which has evolved with the consensus of political parties.
• Once the ECI announces the poll schedule, the MCC immediately comes into effect and remains operational until the conclusion of the electoral process.
• Its primary objective is to ensure that campaigns, polling, and counting proceed in an orderly, transparent, and peaceful manner.
• Additionally, it serves as a mechanism to curb any misuse of state machinery and financial resources by the ruling party.
• It was initially introduced by the ECI under the title of 'Minimum Code of Conduct' during the Mid-Term Elections in 1968-69.
• Subsequent revisions were made in 1979, 1982, 1991, and 2013, reflecting the changing dynamics of electoral politics in the country.
• Though the MCC has no statutory backing (only a moral obligation), it has grown in strength as a result of the ECI's strict enforcement since its implementation in the 1990s.

What Activities Are Prohibited After Implementation of MCC?

• The MCC imposes several restrictions, including prohibiting the ruling party from using its official position for campaigning purposes.
• Ministers and government authorities are barred from announcing financial grants or launching projects that may influence voters in favour of the ruling party.
  • Additionally, the utilisation of official machinery for campaign purposes is strictly prohibited.
• This code provides that no party or candidate shall indulge in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes, religious or linguistic communities.
• It also provides that there shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes. Mosques, churches, temples or other places of worship shall not be used as a forum for election propaganda. 

The Unprecedented Move of the ECI:

• The notice served to the BJP President was regarding PM Modi’s malicious election speech delivered at Banswara (Rajasthan).
• A similar notice was served to Congress president, concerning complaints related both to him and party leader Rahul Gandhi.
• ECI officials said this is the first time in recent history that the panel has taken cognisance of a complaint against a Prime Minister.
• In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the ECI had given a clean chit to Mr. Modi on complaints lodged by the Opposition parties.
  • Then-Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa had submitted a dissent note on some of the decisions taken by the ECI regarding complaints against the Prime Minister.
• What is also unprecedented is the ECI issuing notices to the respective party presidents instead of directly to the concerned individuals.
• In its notice to the BJP president, the ECI asked him to bring to the notice of all-star campaigners of the party to set high standards of political discourse and observe provisions of MCC in letter and spirit.