NEW DELHI: Between the announcement of polls in five states in October and the end of campaign on Tuesday, the EC issued 10 show-cause notices – including six to politicians, three to political parties and one to the Karnataka government – over different violations of the model code of conduct. However, what has intrigued some is the absence of the usual decision or action by EC thereafter – be it a warning to the errant politician to be more careful in future utterances, censure or imposition of campaign curbs for a limited or entire duration of the poll.
TOI has learnt that the EC’s silence on the outcome of its show-cause notices was not a coincidence but a conscious course of action defined by the poll panel firmly pointing out the alleged violations, letting things seep in as an explanation to the notice was prepared and exercising patience and restraint until the errant politician felt the nudge to make a course-correction.This is now a preferred alternative to any knee-jerk action, as per those in the know.
Sources said the commission’s preference of preventive approach over punitive action – helmed by CEC Rajiv Kumar through the 11 state polls he has presided over so far – is seen as successful in lifting the level of poll-time political discourse from the depths it had allegedly reached in 2019 general election and subsequent state polls like the one in West Bengal and one that has brought down the frequent attacks directed at the panel, be it by the parties, media or the courts, for not doing its job well.
The view in the commission, as per sources, is that a show-cause notice, issued with due publicity and widely covered in the media, itself serves the purpose of putting the respondent on the backfoot as it calls for an explanation for remarks or actions seen in violation of the model code of conduct or other laws.
“The idea is to encourage and nudge politicians to restore and maintain decency in public discourse. Already, this approach is having an impact with lesser clutter of complaints reaching the EC with each passing poll, fewer dirty/cuss words like “snake” being used in the heat of the campaign, and a conspicuous dip in appeals for votes along religious lines,” an EC functionary told TOI.
As per sources in EC, the commission takes care to frame its notices to send the intended message across to the parties and campaigners. For instance, the notice to Congress’s Rahul Gandhi on his “pickpocket” jibe against PM Modi emphasises on the need to maintain a balance between freedom of speech and one’s right to reputation, as does the notice regarding the redbus advertisements issued by Congress in Rajasthan that nuanced the play of politics through such advertisements while ensuring that the revenues of media ventures are safeguarded.
TOI has learnt that the EC’s silence on the outcome of its show-cause notices was not a coincidence but a conscious course of action defined by the poll panel firmly pointing out the alleged violations, letting things seep in as an explanation to the notice was prepared and exercising patience and restraint until the errant politician felt the nudge to make a course-correction.This is now a preferred alternative to any knee-jerk action, as per those in the know.
Sources said the commission’s preference of preventive approach over punitive action – helmed by CEC Rajiv Kumar through the 11 state polls he has presided over so far – is seen as successful in lifting the level of poll-time political discourse from the depths it had allegedly reached in 2019 general election and subsequent state polls like the one in West Bengal and one that has brought down the frequent attacks directed at the panel, be it by the parties, media or the courts, for not doing its job well.
The view in the commission, as per sources, is that a show-cause notice, issued with due publicity and widely covered in the media, itself serves the purpose of putting the respondent on the backfoot as it calls for an explanation for remarks or actions seen in violation of the model code of conduct or other laws.
“The idea is to encourage and nudge politicians to restore and maintain decency in public discourse. Already, this approach is having an impact with lesser clutter of complaints reaching the EC with each passing poll, fewer dirty/cuss words like “snake” being used in the heat of the campaign, and a conspicuous dip in appeals for votes along religious lines,” an EC functionary told TOI.
As per sources in EC, the commission takes care to frame its notices to send the intended message across to the parties and campaigners. For instance, the notice to Congress’s Rahul Gandhi on his “pickpocket” jibe against PM Modi emphasises on the need to maintain a balance between freedom of speech and one’s right to reputation, as does the notice regarding the redbus advertisements issued by Congress in Rajasthan that nuanced the play of politics through such advertisements while ensuring that the revenues of media ventures are safeguarded.
