Election Commission has issued fresh, comprehensive guidelines for political parties on their conduct and manifestos,and that will be a big setback for Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Admi Party, ahead of the 2014 election.
The EC has directed all parties and candidates to ensure that their manifestos reflect the rationale for the promises and broadly indicate the ways and means of meeting the financial requirements.
Election Commission has issued few basic, but important guideline's :
a) Fresh, comprehensive guidelines for political parties on their conduct and manifestos, cautioning them against making tall promises because in reality distribution of freebies of any kind “influences all people” and “shakes the root of free and fair elections to a large degree.
b)“The trust of voters should be sought only on those promises which are possible to be fulfilled.”
c) The EC has directed all parties and candidates to ensure that their manifestos reflect the rationale for the promises and broadly indicate the ways and means of meeting the financial requirements. “The trust of voters should be sought only on those promises which are possible to be fulfilled.”
d) Manifestos should not contain anything repugnant to the ideals and principles enshrined in the Constitution. The parties should avoid making promises that are likely to vitiate the election process or exert undue influence on voters.The guidelines follow the EC’s move to create a level-playing field before elections, following the Supreme Court’s directions.
The Election Commission has taken note of the In its July 5, 2013 verdict, the Supreme Court July 5, 20130 verdict that said that though promises made in manifestos could not be construed as corrupt practises as per law, the distribution of freebies of any kind “influences” all people.The EC guidelines have taken into consideration the views of the parties expressed at a meeting with the EC and these have also been included in the Model Code of Conduct.
INDIA HONEST welcomes the steps relating to the guidelines, which will save wastage of tax-payers money in unproductive freebies, like colour television to villagers, where electricity has not reached or laptop to such students of Madarsa, without any supporting teachers to teach, how to use those laptop.
Moreover it will specifically hurt AAP leaders, in writing their manifesto, where their tall unpractical promises have to be supported by the ways and means of meeting the financial requirements. Or even the bluff of promising many big acts, without explaining the modus of doing that, to a promised result in a fixed time frame.
It is welcome step to restrict and govern the rainy season bangs, playing jokes on the highly aggrieved people of India with the offer of imaginary lollipops.