Model Code of Conduct



The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to regulate political parties and candidates prior to elections, to ensure free and fair elections which is in keeping with Article 324 of the Constitution, which gives the Election Commission the power to supervise elections to the Parliament and state legislatures.
  • The MCC is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till the date that results are announced.
  • Thus, for the general elections this year, the MCC came into force on March 10, 2019, when the election schedule was announced, and operated till May 23, 2019, when the final results will be announced.

Need of MCC:

  • To maintain equality between ruling party and not in power party by providing them equality in election period.
  • To maintain the sanctity of the election process and stop misuse of money power, muscle power and media power.
  • Act as moral force to stop all wrong doing in the electoral process.

Key provisions of the Model Code of Conduct

The MCC contains eight provisions dealing with  general conduct, meetings, processions, polling  day, polling booths, observers, party in power,  and election manifestos.  Major provisions of the  MCC are outlined below.
  • General Conduct:  Criticism of political parties must be limited to their policies and programmes, past record and work. Activities such as:
    1. using caste and communal feelings to secure votes,
    2. criticising candidates on the basis of unverified reports,
    3. bribing or intimidation of voters, and
    4. organising demonstrations or picketing outside houses of persons to protest against their opinions, are prohibited.
Location: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

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