New Delhi: 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 finds its origin during the 1960 assembly elections in Kerala when the administration tried to evolve a code of conduct for the political parties. The code has evolved over the last 60 years to assume its present form.
According to the Election Commission of India, the model code of conduct states that the parties in power at the Centre and in the states should ensure that they do not use their official position for campaigning.
Ministers and other government authorities cannot announce financial grants in any form. No project or scheme that may have the effect of influencing the voter in favour of the party in power can be announced, and ministers cannot use official machinery for campaign purposes when the poll code is in effect.
65.79% turnout recorded in Lok Sabha polls, excluding postal ballots: EC
A voter turnout of 65.79 percent was recorded in the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections, but the final figures may change as it does not include postal ballots, the Election Commission said on Thursday.
At a recent press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had said a total of 64.2 crore voters had exercised their franchise.
In the 2019 parliamentary polls, the turnout was 67.40 percent.
In 2019, India had 91.20 crore voters and out of these, 61.5 crore had exercised their franchise. In the 2024 polls, the size of the electorate grew to 96.88 crore voters.
“Overall, 65.79 percent voter turnout was recorded in general elections, 2024, at the polling stations,” the Election Commission said in a statement. Voter turnout at polling stations means votes polled in electronic voting machines.
The commission said detailed statistical reports having the number of postal votes and gross voter turnout will be made available after finalisation of details, as received from states and Union Territories in due course according to standard practice.
EC says rebuffed attempts to vitiate electoral process
The Election Commission on Thursday dedicated the “violence-free” Lok Sabha polls to Mahatma Gandhi and asserted that it rebuffed attempts to vitiate the electoral process with “rumours and baseless doubts” that could have fomented unrest across the country.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and S S Sandhu visited the Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial, after presenting the notification constituting the 18th Lok Sabha to President Droupadi Murmu.
In a statement, CEC Rajiv Kumar pledged that the EC’s service to the nation, now in its 76th year, will go on with “unflinching” dedication.
“We rebuffed all attempts to vitiate the electoral process with rumours and baseless doubts which could have fomented unrest. The ‘Will’ and ‘Wisdom’ of the common man who has enormous faith in democratic institutions of India have prevailed. We are morally and legally obliged to always uphold the same by conducting free, fair and inclusive elections,” the EC said.
Rajiv Kumar said the Commission had made an upfront commitment while announcing the Lok Sabha elections to keep the electoral process free from violence.
“We stand here with humility in our hearts having catalysed the will of the people of India in an almost non-violent manner,” he said.
Kumar said the EC has, with all sincerity of heart and mind, made its best efforts to make sure that the right to franchise of the most ordinary Indian was not denied at any cost, and gets vigorously enabled.
He said the Commission also ensured that the world’s largest electoral contest created democratic surpluses; and that violence of any form was not allowed to cast even the smallest shadow in the intense activity involving crores of people.
“All States of India and Union Territories, including Jammu & Kashmir, and Manipur have set an example with their mature conduct that bodes well for the future. Ballots and not bullets are the way to peace and development,” the EC said.
