What is in news : Election commission issues a statement for enforcement of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during bye-elections being conducted

Model Code of Conduct

• Guidelines
• Conduct of political parties and candidates
• During elections mainly with respect to speeches, polling day, polling booths, election manifestos, processions and general conduct.
• Article 324 of the Constitution, which mandates EC to conduct free and fair elections to the Parliament and State Legislatures.
• Aim: To ensure free and fair elections.
• Came into force immediately on announcement of the election schedule by the commission. The Code remains in force till the end of the electoral process.
• First issued in 1971 (5th Election) and revised it from time to time. This set of norms has been evolved with the consensus of political parties who have consented to abide by the principles embodied in the said code and also binds them to respect and observe it in its letter and spirit.
• Lay down how political parties, contesting candidates and party(s) in power should conduct themselves during the process of elections i.e. on their general conduct during electioneering, holding meetings and processions, poll day activities and functioning of the party in power etc.
• Enforcement: The EC has devised several mechanisms to take note of the violation of the code, which include joint task forces of enforcement agencies and flying squads. The latest is the introduction of the cVIGIL mobile app through which audio-visual evidence of malpractices can be reported.