Model Code of Conduct to apply immediately after premature dissolution of House: EC

NEW DELHI: In a significant order that will have immediate impact in poll-bound Telangana, the Election Commission has directed that model code of conduct will henceforth apply to caretaker state governments right from dissolution of the state assembly.
Until now, the model code of conduct was applicable only with announcement of poll schedule by the Election Commission.
Citing the Supreme Court verdict in the SR Bommai case that the caretaker government should merely carry on day-to-day governance and desist from taking any policy decisions, the poll panel, in a communication to the Cabinet secretary and chief secretaries of all stats and Union territories sent on Thursday, said the model code of conduct in cases of premature dissolution of legislative assembly shall come into operation with immediate effect and continue to remain in force till completion of the election to constitute the new assembly.
"The provisions of the aforesaid Part-VII of Model Code of Conduct shall apply on the caretaker state government as well as on the Central Government in so far as matters relating to that state are concerned ... Consequently, neither the caretaker state government nor the Central government shall announce any new schemes, projects, etc. in respect of that state or undertake any of the activities prohibited under the aforesaid Part-VII of the Model Code of Conduct," said EC.
Para-VII of the model code lays down boundaries for the party in power, thus defining boundaries for conduct of government of the poll-bound state as well as Centre regarding policy decisions concerning that state.
EC ruled that other prohibitions such as use of official resources for any non-official purposes, combining of official visit with electioneering work, etc. shall apply on all ministers and other authorities of the caretaker state government, the Central government as well as governments of other States.
Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao had on September 6 announced dissolution of the state assembly and

recommended holding of fresh assembly elections. EC is current in the midst of a summary revision of the electoral rolls of the state, which are due to be published on October 8, 2018. It is expected that the assembly polls to Telangana and four other states - Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Mizoram - will be announced soon after that.