The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued an advisory to all national and state political parties, directing them to immediately “cease and desist” from any activities related to registering individuals for post-election beneficiary-oriented schemes through any advertisements, surveys, or applications. This advisory comes in response to various instances observed during the ongoing General Elections 2024.
The ECI has expressed concern over political parties and candidates seeking voter details under the guise of surveys for their proposed beneficiary schemes, viewing it as a corrupt practice of bribery under Section 123(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The commission has noted that “some political parties and candidates have been engaging in activities that blur the lines between legitimate surveys and partisan efforts to register individuals for post-election beneficiary-oriented schemes”.
The Commission emphasized that such activities could create the impression of a transactional relationship between the voter and the proposed benefit, potentially leading to inducement for voting in a particular way.
While acknowledging that “generic and general electoral promises are in the realm of permissibility,” the ECI highlighted activities that obscure the distinction between genuine surveys and biased attempts to enroll people in programs for political gain. It has directed all District Election Officers to take appropriate actions against any such advertisements within the 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.
The advisory specifically mentions instances such as “Newspaper advertisements call upon individual voters to register themselves for benefits by giving missed calls on a mobile or calling on a telephone number,” distribution of forms seeking details of voters in the name of a socioeconomic survey, and the circulation of web platforms or mobile applications by political parties seeking voter information.
The ECI reiterated that the ongoing Lok Sabha elections are being conducted in seven phases, with votes to be counted on June 4.