Jan 28, 2017: Expressing concern that the Union Government is not properly adhering to provisions of the Model Code of Conduct, the Election Commission today wrote a letter to the Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha and mentioned that the Government should strictly adhere to the guidelines issued by the EC and honour the Model Code of Conduct provisions.
News agencies reported, in a letter to the Union Cabinet Secretary the EC wrote that the Commission had noted some Ministries and Departments had taken decision that would disturb level playing fields in the poll bound States. The Commission has asked PK Sinha to issue necessary instructions to all the concerned Ministries and departments to strictly honour the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and EC guidelines.
Notably, the Opposition Parties have already opposed the Union Government’s decision to present the Budget before Assembly polls in five States and PIL was also filed. The Apex Court quashed the PIL as no specific illustrations were provided explaining how budget presentation may have an impact on voters. However, the EC restrained the Government from announcing policies for five poll bound the States in the Budget.
