PARTIES GO ALL OUT

The Representation of Peoples Act stipulates that no person shall- (a) convene, hold, attend, join or address any public meeting or procession in connection with an election; or (b) display to the public any election matter by means of cinematography, television or other similar apparatus; or (c) propagate any election matter to the public by holding, or by arranging the holding of, any musical concert or any theatrical performance or any other entertainment or amusement with a view to attracting the members of the public thereto, in any polling area during the period of forty-eight hours ending with the hour fixed for the conclusion of the poll for any election in that polling area.

In October 2013 the Election Commission had notified that the provisions of the model code of conduct and related instructions of the EC issued from time to time shall also apply to the content being posted on the internet, including social media websites, by candidates and political parties.

In the wake of controversies over Narendra Modi’s FICCI meeting, Rahul Gandhi’s TV interviews and the release of BJP manifesto after campaigning had ended in Gujarat, the EC said that “It appears imperative to revisit the provisions relating to the last 48 hours before completion of poll to appropriately address challenges unleashed by fast changing technologies in the context of multi-phase

polls.’’