Model Code Of Conduct

Cong accuses IPS Rashmi Shukla of poll code violation, demands EC action

The Congress on Monday demanded that the Election Commission take action against IPS officer Rashmi Shukla for allegedly violating the model code of conduct during the Maharashtra assembly elections by meeting Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The Congress's chief spokesperson, Atul Londhe, claimed Shukla met Fadnavis, the state home minister, when the model code of conduct was in place. The IPS officer reportedly met Fadnavis at his official residence on the evening of November 23, the day votes were counted. Earlier this month, the Election Commission had directed the Maharashtra government to transfer DGP Rashmi Shukla with immediate effect following complaints from political parties, including the Congress. The poll body directed the Maharashtra chief secretary to hand over Shukla's charge to the next senior-most IPS officer in the cadre. Talking to reporters, Londhe said, "Rashmi Shukla met the state home minister when the model code of conduct was in place, which is a

Maharashtra polls: Seizures amount to Rs 660 cr; 8,668 complaints resolved

The seizures of cash, alcohol, and other items amid the poll code conduct for the Maharashtra assembly elections amounted to Rs 660.16 crore, while 8,668 of 8,678 complaints lodged through the C-Vigil app were resolved. As per the information shared by the office of the state Chief Electoral Officer, 8,678 complaints were lodged across Maharashtra via the Election Commission's C-Vigil app from October 15, when the model code of conduct kicked in, to November 18. Of these, 8,668 complaints were resolved. Enforcement agencies from the state and Central governments seized illegal items worth a staggering Rs 660.16 crore during the same period. The seized assets included cash, alcohol, drugs, and precious metals, the CEO's office stated. The strict enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct is underway in the state which votes on November 20 ensuring that the election process remains fair and transparent. The C-Vigil app and proactive enforcement measures have played a critical role in

Maharashtra Assembly polls: Sharad Pawar's bags checked in Baramati

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar's bags were checked by the poll personnel at Baramati helipad in Maharashtra's Pune district on Sunday morning, according to his associate. Pawar was on way to attend a poll rally in Solapur, the associate said. The model of code of conduct is enforced in the state for the assembly elections scheduled on November 20. "While Pawar saheb was on his way to Karmala poll rally in Solapur, his bags were checked at the Baramati helipad. After the due checking, he boarded the chopper and proceeded for the rally," the associate said. On Saturday, poll authorities checked the bag of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Maharashtra's Amravati district where he arrived for a poll rally. Later, former state minister and Congress' Teosa MLA Yashomati Thakur questioned the action of the poll authorities and asked why they were not checking bags of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah or Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The issue of poll officials check

J'khand polls: Congress files complaint with ECI over BJP's 'false' ad

Congress claimed that the advertisement violated the Model Code of Conduct and other electoral laws. It alleged that the leaders of JMM, INC, and RJD were being portrayed in a negative and false light

Police seizes Rs 3.70 cr in Palghar amid Maharashtra poll code in place

Police have seized more than Rs 3.70 crore cash from a van in Palghar district of Maharashtra amid the code of conduct in place for the November 20 assembly polls, an official said on Saturday. The cash was seized at Wada in the coastal district on Friday, police inspector Datta Kindre said. "The police's vigilance and flying squad received a tip-off that a van was transporting cash through the district. Based on the information, the team intercepted the van and carried out a check, during which it found that Rs 3,70,50,000 cash was being transported. The driver and security personnel failed to produce valid documents required for the transportation of the cash," he said. They told the police that the cash was being taken from a company based in Navi Mumbai to Vikramgad in Palghar, he added. The cash has since been seized and the Income Tax Department as well as election officials have been informed for further probe, he said, adding that two occupants of the van have been detained

Amid model code, Mumbai police seize Rs 2.3 cr cash, arrest 12 people

In the run-up to the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections, police have seized Rs 2.3 crore cash from 12 persons at Kalbadevi in south Mumbai, officials said on Friday. Acting on inputs, a team of Lokmanya Tilak Marg police station and poll officials intercepted a group of people on Thursday night. While a search led to the discovery of Rs 2.3 crore, the individuals could neither produce any documents linked to the cash nor explain why they were carrying so much money, an official said. As the model code of conduct for the state elections is in force, surveillance teams formed on the instructions of the Election Commission are checking the movement of potential inducements like cash, liquor, and other items. After paperwork and questioning, which went on till the early hours of Friday, the money was seized and the 12 persons carrying the cash were detained, he said. The cash was later handed over to the Income Tax department for further probe, the official added.

Maharashtra polls: Rs 52 cr worth assets seized within 24 hrs of MCC

Maharashtra Assembly Elections: Since the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct on October 15, goods valued Rs 90.74 crore have been seized across the state

Remove GRs from govt website after enforcing poll code in Maharashtra: ECI

Various government departments in Maharashtra have removed orders published on the official website after the enforcement of the model code of conduct, following instructions from the office of the state chief electoral officer. The website saw a number of orders, or Government Resolutions (GRs), uploaded even after the model code of conduct came into effect on Tuesday following the announced of the state assembly polls schedule by the Election Commission of India. Asked about it, additional chief electoral officer Kiran Kulkarni said, "We have asked departments to remove the GRs uploaded on the government website after 3.30 pm on Tuesday. It was at this time that the chief election commissioner announced the schedule for the Maharashtra legislative assembly polls, and the model code of conduct came into effect immediately." The GRs, however, are not withdrawn (as only removed from the website) and their scrutiny will be done, the official said. "If the GRs are not violating the mo

JJP writes to EC over 'Model Code of Conduct' violation by Haryana govt

Voting for all 90 seats is scheduled for October 1, with the results to be declared on October 4

PM seeks ideas as his radio broadcast 'Mann Ki Baat' resumes on June 30

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said his 'Mann Ki Baat' monthly radio broadcast will resume from June 30 and urged people to share their ideas and inputs for it. "Delighted to share that after a gap of some months due to the elections, #MannKiBaat is back! This month's programme will take place on Sunday, 30th June," he said in a post on X. "I call upon all of you to share your ideas and inputs for the same. Write on the MyGov Open Forum, NaMo App or record your message on 1800 11 7800," Modi said. Prime Minister Modi's monthly 'Mann Ki Baat' broadcast was last aired on February 25 and then took a break for the Lok Sabha polls. In the 110th episode of the programme, Modi had asked first-time voters to poll in record numbers in the elections and said their maiden vote should be cast for the country. The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) guidelines of the Election Commission asks governments to not use official events or public-funded platforms for something that may be seen to gi

DC, SSP to be held responsible for any corrupt, illegal activity: Punjab CM

In a strict instruction to senior officers, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said if any official is found to be involved in corrupt or illegal activity then the deputy commissioner and the senior superintendent of police of that district will be held responsible. Mann also announced to open a 'mukh mantri sahayta kendra' (chief minister help centre) in each district to facilitate people in getting their works done in a time-bound manner. The chief minister on Monday held a meeting with all deputy commissioners of the state here. Addressing the media after the meeting, Mann said the development works got affected because of the Model Code of Conduct. He said the Model Code of Conduct remained in force for more than two months due to the Lok Sabha polls. Mann said that he gave instructions in the meeting to the deputy commissioners to ensure completion of the pending works. He also gave strict instructions to the deputy commissioners to ensure that no one should face

Election Commission lifts model code of conduct following LS poll results

The model code of conduct that came into force on March 16 with the announcement of the Lok Sabha election has been lifted. In a communication to the Union Cabinet Secretary and state chief secretaries, the Election Commission said as results of Lok Sabha elections and assembly polls in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, along with some assembly bypolls have been declared, "model code of conduct has ceased to be in operation with immediate effect". The model code of conduct is a set of conventions agreed upon by all stakeholders and imposed during elections. Its objective is to keep the campaigning, polling and counting process orderly, clean and peaceful and check any abuse of state machinery and finances by the party in power. While it does not enjoy any statutory backing, the Supreme Court has upheld its sanctity on several occasions. The Election Commission is fully authorised to investigate any violation of the code and pronounce punishment. The poll code fi

Battleground 2024: After longest poll campaign, top leaders head to temples

As the campaigning ended for the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha polls, the PM began his 45-hour long meditation at Kanniyakumari's Vivekananda Rock Memorial

LS polls: HC refuses to interfere with order on BJP ads during MCC period

A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday refused to interfere in a single-bench order that directed the BJP not to publish any advertisement in violation of the model code of conduct during the Lok Sabha election process. Observing that a laxman rekha should be adhered to, the division bench presided by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam said there should not be any personal attack on the part of any political party. Refusing to interfere in Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya's May 20 order, the division bench said the BJP can move the single bench, seeking a review or recall of its order. The BJP had moved the appeal, claiming that the single bench passed the order without giving it any hearing. The saffron party's counsel also stated the Constitution provides that the Election Commission is the appropriate authority for redressal in case of any dispute during a poll process. The high court had on May 20 issued an injunction, restraining the BJP from publishing advertisem

Congress files complaint with EC against JP Nadda over MCC violation

The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) on Sunday sought the Election Commission to initiate action against BJP's national president J P Nadda and other senior leaders for allegedly violating the model code of conduct by posting a video on social media intimidating members of SC and ST community not to vote for a particular candidate. In a complaint to the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer, the Congress mentioned about a video uploaded on social media platform 'X' by the official account of Karnataka State Bharatiya Janata Party @bjp4karnataka which is operated by Amit Malviya, the head of IT cell on instructions of J P Nadda, BJP National President, B Y Vijayendra, BJP State President and Social Media incharge- Karnataka BJP on May 4 at 5.34 pm. "The said video posted on social media featured animated characters of Rahul Gandhi and Siddaramaiah. In the clip, SC, ST and OBC community are portrayed as "eggs" in a nest and it also suggested Rahul Gandhi planting a big egg ...

ECI's nod taken before lifting ban on onion exports amid MCC: Report

The Centre has taken permission from the Election Commission to lift the ban on exports of onion in view of the ongoing implementation of the Model Code of Conduct due to the Lok Sabha elections, sources said. According to government sources, the Department of Revenue under the finance ministry took the permission from the Election Commission to lift the ban on onion exports, subject to conditions of 40 per cent export duty, and also a minimum export price (MEP) of USD 550 per tonne. The government on Saturday lifted the ban on onion exports, a decision that can help boost income of a large section of farmers and comes ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in key producing regions including Maharashtra. The government has imposed a minimum export price (MEP) of USD 550 per tonne (around Rs 46 per kg) as well as 40 per cent export duty. Taking duty into account, the shipments will not be allowed below USD 770 per tonne (around Rs 64 per kg). The decision to lift the ban on exports of onion w

Model Code of Conduct violations that ECI has flagged this election season

While it may ban a candidate from campaigning for a while, the ECI has no judicial arm for enforcement

BJP, Cong seeks more time to respond to EC notice regarding MCC violation

ECI has invoked Section 77 of the Representation of the People Act and held party presidents responsible, as a first step, to reign in star campaigners

Disburse pensions using DBT, doorstep delivery during MCC: EC to Andhra

The Election Commission has directed the Andhra Pradesh government to utilise direct benefit transfer (DBT) and other alternative arrangements to distribute welfare schemes to beneficiaries during the period of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), an official said on Sunday. Disbursal of pensions assumed significance and controversy in the run-up to elections after the poll body restrained government volunteers from carrying out welfare duties until the period of the MCC ends. Ruling YSRCP and the opposition NDA alliance of TDP, BJP and Janasena traded allegations over alleged hardships faced by beneficiaries while receiving pensions in April. Shashi Bhushan Kumar, Principal Secretary, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department said the poll body ordered the state to follow its guidelines in letter as well as spirit to ensure that no beneficiary faces any hardship to avail the benefits when the MCC is in effect. The payment of pensions through DBT using Aadhaar enabled Payment Syst

LS polls: No violation of MCC in Ajit Pawar's funds for votes' remarks

The returning officer of Baramati Lok Sabha constituency has filed a report stating that there was no prima facie evidence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar violating the Model Code of Conduct through his funds for votes remarks. The Sharad Pawar-led NCP(SP) had filed a complaint against Ajit Pawar with the Election Commission of India alleging the violation of the Model Code of Conduct and the Representation of the People Act. At a poll rally at Indapur in Baramati constituency, Ajit Pawar recently said, ...As far as funds are concerned, we will cooperate to give you as much as you want, but at the same time, the EVM button needs to be pressed in abundance. If the EVM button is pressed in abundance, I will also feel good allocating funds, or else, I will have to restrict myself, Pawar holds the finance portfolio in the state. The remarks had drawn criticism from the opposition, with NCP (SP) moving EC seeking action against Ajit Pawar, who heads the Nationalist Congr