Team Herald
PANJIM: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that in case of premature dissolution of a State Legislative Assembly, the model code of conduct will come into operation immediately, even as a caretaker government is put in place till the formation of a new government through fresh elections.
ECI in a communication to presidents of all political parties, has clarified to the Centre as well as the States that in the event of the premature dissolution of any State Legislative Assembly, the caretaker government should carry on “day- to- day government” and desist from taking any major policy decisions.
“The Election Commissioner has considered the matter of application of the Model Code of Conduct in the cases of premature dissolution of legislative assembly, where a caretaker government has been asked to carry on the administration of the State/UT for the purposes of free, fair, transparent and robust electoral process,” ECI principal secretary Narendra Butpalia said in the letter.
The Commission has said that the Model Code of Conduct will come into operation with immediate effect in the State concerned and shall continue to be in force till the completion of the election to constitute the new Legislative Assembly. “The code will apply on the caretaker State government as well as on the Central government in so far as matters relating to the State are concerned,” ECI said.
It has further asked caretaker State government and the Central government to desist from announcing any new schemes, projects, etc in respect of that concerned State or undertake any of the activities prohibited under the code.
