The Election Commission announced the code of conduct would be effective from today, ten days before the issuance of notification for the by-elections.
As a direct fallout of the announcement, Prime Minister Deve Gowda cancelled his visit to Hajipur near Patna where he was to lay the foundation for a zonal Office of the Railways. The Prime Minister will not visit Patna on September 8 the detailed programme for which would be drawn up later.
It is widely expected that finance minister P Chidambaram may announce sops for the common man and industry when he gives his budget reply in the House.
Senior government sources said the model code of conduct would not come in the way of such announcements, if any, as policy matters do not come into the ambit of the code of conduct.