The Election Commission has finally announced the polling schedule and Code of Conduct for Rajasthan during a press conference on Saturday in New Delhi. Code of Conduct has come into force in Rajasthan from October 6, Saturday.

Along with Rajasthan, EC has also announced the election dates for Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana.

Election Commission will hold polls in Rajasthan on December 7, Friday. The polling will be completed in one phase in the entire state. EC will conduct the polls on different days and phases in these states, but the results will come out on the same day i.e. December 11.

EC’s schedule in poll-bound states

Rajasthan- Election Commission has decided to conduct polling in the state in just one phase and that is on 7th December 2018. Before polls, the schedule is as follows-

Notifications – November 12

Last date of nomination submission – November 19

Date of scrutiny- November 20

Last date of withdrawal- November 22

Date of Polling- December 7

Final vote counting- December 11

MP and Mizoram- These two states will face the polling in one phase and on the same day. EC has finalized the date of polling in MP and Mizoram which is November 28.

Chhattisgarh- EC will hold the polling in Chhattisgarh under two phases. In the first phase, polling will be on November 12 and in second phase polling will be conducted on November 20. Hence the Chhattisgarh will be the first state to witness the polling in this season.

Telangana – The new state is yet in wait for the schedule but the EC has announced the date for polling by now and i.e. December 7.

With the announcement by EC, The Code of Conduct has come into force in all the poll-bound states from October 6, 2018.

What happens during the Code of Conduct?

Election Commission of India’s Model Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines for the conduct of political parties and candidates during elections. Mainly, in respect to speeches, polling day, polling booths, election manifestos, processions and general conduct.

The Code of Conduct comes into force immediately on the announcement of the election schedule for the need of ensuring free and fair elections. Much of it is designed to avert communal clashes and corrupt practices.

The main points of the codes are-

• Government bodies cannot participate in any recruitment process during the electoral process.
• The election campaign rallies and road shows must not hinder the road traffic.
• The election code in force hinders the government of ruling party leaders from launching new welfare programs and schemes.
• Public spaces like meeting grounds, helipads, government guest houses, and bungalows should not be monopolized by candidates.
• The ruling party cannot make any ad-hoc appointment of officials, which may influence the voters in favor of the party.
• On polling day, all party candidates should cooperate with the poll-duty officials at the voting booths for an orderly voting process.