Check language and talk about issues: EC to parties and star campaigners in Karnataka

Taking serious note of the "plummeting level of campaign discourse", the Election Commission has advised the political parties and their star campaigners to exercise caution and restrain themselves from saying anything that could vitiate the elections atmosphere.

The EC on Tuesday issued an advisory to political parties and their star campaigners in Karnataka, telling them to check their language and focus on issues.

“They [political parties] are expected to raise the level of discourse to issue-based debate and provide depth and a pan-India perspective to local discourse,” states the advisory. Telling parties to “exercise caution and restraint in their utterances,” the ECI has directed chief electoral officers to ensure that the advisory is complied with and has empowered them to take action if it isn’t.

The Commission said that it has issued the advisory in view of the “plummeting level of campaign discourse.” The language has led to several complaints and has garnered negative media attention, according to the advisory.

The ECI stated that the parties should adhere to the Model code of Conduct (MCC), saying that "The spirit of the MCC also prohibits attempts to vitiate the electoral space with suggestive or indirect statements or innuendoes."

The political discourse in Karnataka has devolved into a slugfest, with parties hurling personal barbs at each other’s campaigners. With polls barely a week away, the parties have given no ground to each other and have filed complaints with the ECI.

A week ago, the Congress filed a complaint against Union Home Minister Amit Shah for saying that if the Opposition parties were to be elected, riots would ensue in the state. On Monday, the BJP filed a complaint against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s son Priyank after he called Prime Minister Narendra Modi ‘nalayak’ (inept).