Election Guidelines for Haryana Assembly General Elections 2024: Ensuring a Fair and Peaceful Campaign

Election Guidelines for Haryana Assembly General Elections 2024: Ensuring a Fair and Peaceful Campaign

As Haryana gears up for the upcoming Assembly General Elections in 2024, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a comprehensive set of guidelines to ensure that election campaigns are conducted in a fair, orderly, and lawful manner. These rules, meticulously crafted by the ECI, are designed to uphold the integrity of the democratic process while preventing malpractices and ensuring peace throughout the election period. Political parties, candidates, and their supporters must comply with these directives until the election process is completed.

Haryana’s Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. Pankaj Aggarwal, emphasized the importance of adhering to these guidelines. He stated that criticism of opposing political parties and candidates should strictly revolve around their policies, programs, past records, and actions. Personal attacks, as well as the use of communal or caste-based appeals, are strictly prohibited. The overarching aim is to maintain a healthy, issue-based campaign that encourages debate on governance, development, and public welfare, while avoiding polarizing sentiments.

Fair Access to Public Spaces and Resources
To ensure that all political parties have equal opportunities during their campaigns, the ECI mandates that public spaces such as grounds and helipads be made available freely to all contesting parties and candidates. Mr. Aggarwal reiterated that local police officials must be notified well in advance about public meetings, and necessary permissions regarding time and venue should be obtained promptly to avoid any last-minute hurdles. This step is crucial to ensuring that political campaigns do not interfere with public life or pose security risks.

In instances where restrictive or prohibitory orders are in place, these must be respected, and candidates must obtain appropriate permits for the use of loudspeakers or other facilities during public meetings. The ECI also advises political parties to seek police assistance to handle any potential disturbances or public disorder during campaign events.

Managing Processions and Traffic
The conduct of processions is another critical element of election campaigns. The ECI has directed that the time, place, and route for any political processions be planned well in advance, with prior permissions from the police authorities. This ensures that campaign rallies do not cause disruptions to traffic or public movement. It is essential for candidates and their parties to keep the public informed and to work in cooperation with local authorities to minimize inconvenience to residents.

Cooperation with Election Officials
The smooth conduct of elections hinges on the cooperation between political parties, candidates, and election officials. Mr. Pankaj Aggarwal underscored that all political workers engaged in election activities must wear badges or identity cards to ensure transparency and accountability. Informal voter identity slips, which are often distributed by political workers, should be printed on plain white paper and must not carry the name or symbol of any political party or candidate to avoid confusion or undue influence on voters.

Another important directive relates to the movement of vehicles during the campaign period and on polling day. A strict ban on the movement of unauthorized vehicles will be enforced to prevent any irregularities or disruptions. Additionally, any grievances or complaints related to the conduct of elections must be promptly reported to relevant authorities, including the Election Commission Observer, Returning Officer, Zonal or Sector Magistrate, Chief Electoral Officer, or the Election Commission of India.

Restrictions on Campaign Appeals
The ECI has issued stringent guidelines prohibiting appeals based on caste or communal sentiments during the election campaign. Political parties and candidates are strictly forbidden from making any statements or engaging in activities that could create animosity or exacerbate tensions between different caste, community, religious, or linguistic groups. Mr. Aggarwal emphasized that the focus of the campaign should remain on policies and development, and no official work should be conflated with election-related activities.

Furthermore, the use of religious symbols and places of worship for electioneering is banned. Political speeches, posters, music, or any form of campaign activities at temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras, or other religious places are prohibited to prevent the exploitation of religious sentiments for electoral gain. This measure ensures that elections are conducted in a secular manner, free from religious biases.

Preserving Campaign Decorum
The ECI also stressed the importance of preserving the decorum of election campaigns. Political parties and candidates should avoid obstructing public meetings or processions organized by their rivals. Similarly, any posters, banners, or hoardings put up by other political parties or candidates should not be defaced or removed. Respect for the property and campaign materials of other candidates is crucial in fostering a positive and respectful election environment.

Noise Pollution and Campaign Timings
In order to maintain public order and minimize disturbances to the general population, the ECI has imposed restrictions on the use of loudspeakers and other sound amplifying devices during campaigns. Loudspeakers mounted on vehicles or used at public meetings are not allowed to be operated between 10 PM and 6 AM. This regulation is aimed at reducing noise pollution and ensuring that election campaigns do not disturb the peace, particularly in residential areas.

Post-Campaign Period Regulations
Once the official election campaign period has ended, the ECI mandates that individuals who are not voters, candidates, or election agents of the candidates must vacate the constituency where they are not registered voters. This rule ensures that no undue influence or external pressure is exerted on voters during the critical pre-polling period.

The Chief Electoral Officer reiterated that all political parties and candidates must comply with the orders and guidelines issued by the Election Commission, Returning Officers, and District Election Officers. Failure to adhere to these directives can result in penalties and disciplinary action, ensuring that the election process remains transparent, fair, and free from malpractice.

The guidelines set by the Election Commission of India for the Haryana Assembly General Elections 2024 are designed to maintain the sanctity of the electoral process while ensuring that campaigns are conducted in a fair, lawful, and peaceful manner. The emphasis on issue-based criticism, fair access to public spaces, and prohibitions on caste or communal appeals aims to foster a healthy democratic discourse. As Haryana prepares for its crucial elections, the cooperation of political parties, candidates, and election officials will be pivotal in ensuring a smooth and successful election process that upholds the values of democracy.

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