New Delhi: All political parties have been asked to immediately halt any activity involving registration of individuals for post-election beneficiary-oriented schemes through advertisements, surveys or apps.
Issuing the directive on Thursday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said that encouraging voters to register for post-election benefits could create the perception of a transactional relationship between electors and promised benefits, which, in turn, may lead to inducement and compromise the integrity of electoral process.
The Commission said it recognises that making generic electoral promises is permissible, but expressed concern such activities blur the line between genuine surveys and biased attempts to enrol people in programmes for political gains.
ECI has directed all District Election Officers to take appropriate action against any such advertisement within statutory provisions namely Section 127A of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951, 123 (1) of the Representation of People’s Act, 1951, and Section 171 (B) IPC.
