Context: Recently, Election Commission has notified some instructions regarding enforcement of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during bye-election in the entire district.

Background

• The MCC was first mooted by Kerala in its 1960 assembly elections.
• It was later adopted by the Election Commission (EC) during mid-term elections in 1968 and 1969.
• EC issued MCC for the first time in 1971 (5th general elections) and revised it from time to time.

Key highlights

• In case the constituency is comprised in State Capital/Metropolitan Cities/Municipal Corporations, then MCC instructions would be applicable in the area of concerned Constituency only.
• In all other cases, aforesaid instructions would be enforced in the entire district(s) covering the Constituency going for bye-election(s).
• The spirit of these instructions has been that developmental and administrative works should continue without the implications of MCC and the campaigning for the bye election should be restricted in the PC/AC concerned only.
• However, there exists a situation that political activities akin to ongoing bye election may be conducted outside the PC/AC but within the district.
• Such activities will be in contravention to the spirit of the aforesaid instructions.
• If any electioneering activities connected to ongoing bye election are organized anywhere within the district, then all instructions related to enforcement of MCC, COVID and expenditure monitoring shall apply as done in case of political activities.
• District Election Officer concerned shall exercise all necessary action in such cases and ensure strict compliance.

Model Code of Conduct (MCC)

• It is a document from the Election Commission of India that lays down the minimum standards of behaviour for political parties and their candidates contesting elections.
• The guidelines are issued mainly with respect to speeches, polling day, polling booths, election manifestos, processions and general conduct.
• It comes into force immediately on announcement of the election schedule by the commission.
• The Code remains in force till the end of the electoral process.
• MCC does not have any statutory backing but it gained strength in the past decade because of its strict enforcement by the EC.