Piecemeal manifesto by parties a violation of model poll code?

​Hyderabad: Are the political parties in the election-bound Telangana State violating the Model Code of Conduct by revealing their respective manifestos bit by bit without fulfilling statutory requirement of submitting the hard and soft copies of manifestoes to the Election Commission?

It may be mentioned here that the TRS has surged ahead in campaign in the backdrop of the party announcing its candidates for 105 constituencies. The BJP too has released the list of 38 candidates. The Bahujan Left Front (BLF), which include the CPI-M, announced its candidates for 80 constituencies. 

The Congress, TJS, CPI and TDP, which make up Mahakutami (grand alliance) are yet to announce their candidates. But, the Congress has already launched the election campaign.  Against this backdrop, the TRS, BJP and Congress have been releasing the contents of their respective manifestos bit by bit. They are promising to the voters enhanced pensions and projects. Most of the promises, the party leaders say, would be incorporated in their respective manifestos. 

Speaking to The Hans India, a senior official said, "several of these announcements are relating to welfare and free goodies. Whether they violate the Model Code of Conduct or not can be decided only when someone complains to the Election Commission," he added.

Clarifying further, the official sources said the Election Commission of India  has made it incumbent on the political parties to submit the copies of their manifestos to the ESI following the Supreme Court direction.

Accordingly, every political party should submit a hard copy along with a soft copy to the ECI. Apart from it, the ESI has made it clear to the political parties that the election manifestos shall not contain anything repugnant to the ideals and principles enshrined in the Constitution. Further, the manifestos shall be consistent with the letter and spirit of other provisions of Model Code of Conduct.

Another GHMC official on election duties said the main objective of the Model Code of Conduct and the guidelines are intended to ensure a level playing field for every party. The freebies and another found of waiver of farm loans by different political parties are aimed at influencing the voters. 

The political parties, however, may argue that their election promises are very much in line with the Directive Principles of  the Constitution. The officials said the Model Code of Conduct are designed to ensure transparency and level playing field for all political parties. The parties are required to spell out how they have proposed to fulfil the promises. 

When contacted the State Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar confirmed that no political party has so far submitted the copies of their respective election manifesto. However, as of now there is no violation of Model Code of Conduct on this count. The ECI will scrutinise the manifestos when they are submitted, he said.