OPINION: Need to give relaxation in Model Code of Conducts

The Election Commission has asked the Centre to stop the cash subsidy scheme in four districts of Gujarat and two district of Himachal Pardesh till the Assembly elections.  According to the Commission, the announcement of cash subsidy scheme should not have been announced keeping in view the elections as it is the violation of instructions on Model Code of Conduct during the election process. But the Centre is of the view that it is not the violation as there was a mention about this in the budget session by the then Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee. The Election Commission is not satisfied with the logic and ordered to stop this scheme in Gujarat and HP.  It is possible that before the election, it could be in the mind of the government to get political benefit in view of elections in Gujarat as the politics is run by the government itself.

It is an admitted fact that the government and ruling alliance government is of the view that cash subsidy plan would open a treasurer of votes.  It is the right of every political party to do the politics within the limit of rules.  The elections in HP were conducted during the last month but the result has not yet been declared and the elections in Gujarat would be held in couple of weeks now.  The view of the EC for Gujarat may be right but must give a second thought for HP in cash subsidy plan. 

The EC must use its powers to curb the corruption, misuse of money, muscle and power during the election process.  No doubt, the election process has improved with the strictness of the Election Commission but at the same time, the EC must think twice on certain issues before issuing the directives and there is need to give relaxation in Model Code of Conducts so that the normal administrative work may not suffer. 

(Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author in this article are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of City Air News.)