Draft guidelines on poll manifestos by Election Commission

For the first time, the Election Commission has released draft guidelines for poll manifestos of political parties. These guidelines come in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling in July 2013 that asked the election body to regulate the content of manifestos, especially poll “freebies”.

The draft guidelines acknowledge the fact that parties have a right to propose welfare measures in poll manifestos but at the same time also point out that such announcements should neither dent the process of free and fair elections nor hamper the level playing fields for all parties and candidates. They prohibit parties from making promises that could “vitiate the electoral process” or exert “undue influence” on voters.

The parties should only make promises that are in line with the welfare measures enumerated in the Directive Principles of State Policy. All promises should also conform to the ideals and principles enshrined in other parts of the Constitution.

In the interest of transparency, credibility of poll promises and level playing field, the guidelines ask the parties to explain the rationale behind their promises and the proposed funding mechanism.

The guidelines thus try to ensure that while welfare measures for the needy are allowed to be included in poll manifestos, promises made for relatively well off or non-deserving citizens are prohibited.

The draft guidelines will be finalised and formally incorporated in the Model Code of Conduct after comments/suggestions from all political parties. They will apply to all future polls, starting with the upcoming general election.