Following the announcement of the schedule for the General Election to the Bihar Legislative Assembly on October 6, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued comprehensive directions to ensure the immediate and strict implementation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) across the state.
The MCC, which came into effect with the declaration of elections, will apply not only to the State Government but also to the Central Government in matters concerning Bihar, particularly in relation to new announcements and policy decisions, an official statement said.
In its directive to the Chief Secretary and Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar, the Commission emphasised the importance of enforcing key provisions of the MCC, including immediate removal of defacement from government, public and private properties.
Prohibition of misuse of official vehicles, government accommodation or public resources by political parties, candidates or election-related personnel, and also ban on advertisements at the cost of the public exchequer.
The Commission reiterated that the privacy of citizens must be respected, barring any demonstrations or picketing outside private residences.
Additionally, land, buildings or walls may not be used for political publicity such as flags, banners or posters without the owner’s permission.
To enable public participation in monitoring MCC violations, the ECI has operationalized a 24×7 complaint monitoring system, including a dedicated Call Centre at 1950.
Citizens and political parties can also report violations through the C-Vigil App on ECINET. In support, 824 flying squads have been deployed across Bihar, ensuring that reported complaints are acted upon within 100 minutes, the statement added.
Political parties are required to notify police authorities in advance about rallies, meetings or processions to facilitate proper traffic and security arrangements. Permissions for loudspeakers or other public address systems must also be obtained as per the rules.
The Commission has issued a clear directive barring ministers from combining official duties with electioneering and prohibiting the use of government personnel, transport or machinery for campaigning.
Further, there will be a ban on transfers of officials involved in the conduct of elections to prevent any disruption or influence during the election period. All government officials have been instructed to act impartially, ensuring a level playing field for all political parties and candidates.
To promote fair access, public venues such as maidans and helipads must be made available to all parties on equal terms. The SUVIDHA module has been activated on ECINET to streamline applications for use of such venues, with allotment to be made on a first-come, first-served basis, the statement added.
