Rules made but broken

(Editorial: Sept 13, 2009)
In 2004 election campaign, LK Advani, the then Deputy Prime Minister flew in an Indian Air Force helicopter from Bangalore to Tumkur in Karnataka. While he was in Tumkur, the Election Commission announced the dates for the general election and enforced the Model Code of Conduct. Advani was then compelled to send the helicopter back and return to Bangalore by car.

During the last general election, Samajwadi Party candidate for Uttar Pradesh's Rampur Lok Sabha seat, Jayaprada, an Actress-turned politician was booked for luring the women voters by distributing packets of bindis to them. Similarly another bollywood actor Shakti Kapoor was also booked for performing road show without approval from the authority.

Such is the extent of restrictions laid down in the ECI model code of conduct and the power it assumes that it prohibits even making promises to people. On one such occasion, while at a convention on road safety held during the last general election, Chief Minister of Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal had to be cautious not to make any promises to the participants. This was done with a view to avoid coming under the scanner of the Election Commission as the model code of conduct was in force. The CM then realizing the stringent prohibitory rules asked the EC to reconsider the various provisions of the model code of conduct. He said that it was confusing about what to say and avoid in their speeches. He expressed disappointment at the inability of the government to explain the various development plans to their people as it was apprehensive of the violation notice from Election Commission.

Such is the power of Model Code of Conduct that every politician is wary of their conduct during the election period. However, there are certain instructions in the model code which prevents it to implement projects necessary for the welfare of the people. It prohibits laying of foundation stones for projects already included in the annual plan and for which provision exists in the budget. Therefore due to postponements of development projects, delays take place despite the common people being the beneficiaries.
 Also quite a large number of government employees are disturbed from their normal duties by deputing them to election duties of which teachers constitute the largest group. This hampers the normal routine functioning of schools despite the fact that our schools are grossly understaffed.
 Nevertheless the inadequacies, the model code ensures free and fair conduct of electioneering process. It ensures official machinery for the electoral purposes is not misused and that the electoral offences, corruption and malpractices are prevented by all means. Yet the violations of model code takes place conspicuously every day as different political groups keeps mutual consideration to this breach of code, therein the very purpose getting deceived.