Karnataka Bypolls: 'Mind your language' says EC to rival political parties

Bengaluru: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has acted tough on the political parties involved in the campaigning of the ongoing Karnataka Legislative Assembly by-elections.

In the latest directive, the ECI  on October 21 has instructed all of the rival party leaders against using the “offensive and objectionable” language during the bypoll campaign and to adhere to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC)

Karnataka Chief Election Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Meena, took suo moto cognizance of the newspaper reports about the “objectionable and offensive” language and comments being used by rival political parties during the campaigning for the Sindagi and Hanagal constituencies.

The ECI has issued a stern warning to the parties and candidates to adhere to prescribed general conduct rules issued by it when the Model Code of Conduct is in operation.

According to these rules, no party or candidate shall include in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic.

The rules also stipulate that criticism of other political parties, when made, shall be confined to their policies and programme, past record and work. Parties and Candidates shall refrain from criticism of all aspects of private life, not connected with the public activities of the leaders or workers of other parties. Criticism of other parties or their workers based on unverified allegations or distortion shall be avoided.