EC issues advice ahead of Karnataka polls, warns parties, campaigners to ‘hold back’
As the Karnataka Assembly elections approach, the Election Commission has issued an advisory urging political parties and their campaigners to “exercise caution and restraint in their expressions”. . Both BJP and Congress delegations have met with the EC in recent days to highlight several comments made during the polling campaign.
“Political parties and candidates advised caution and restraint in their expressions to maintain a high level of discourse; lead ‘issues’ based debates, give pan-India perspective and depth to local discourse,” the EC wrote on Tuesday.
It cited examples of “inappropriate vocabulary and language” by “star campaigners” in the run-up to state elections. The advice also drew the attention of political parties to the Model Code of Conduct and other legal provisions currently in force.