The Election Commission (EC) has decided to relax the Model Code of Conduct, on an experimental basis, by allowing partial implementation of developmental schemes in those districts where bypolls will be held on June 12. The EC order came after various states, where by-elections are being held, gave representions stating that the enforcement of model code affects the developmental works in the entire district, while only a part of the district may be involved in the election process.

The Election Commission has now decided on an experimental basis that the model code shall now be applicable only in respect of areas falling in the Assembly constituencies / Parliamentary constituency going for bye-election and not to the entire districts in which such constituency is situated.
The Commission however, said that all other existing instructions
on Model Code of Conduct on matters like tours of ministers, vehicles, advertisements, use of government guest houses, and all prevailing Commission’s instructions including transfers of officers etc. shall continue to remain applicable to the entire districts in which the
constituency having the bye-election is situated.

The EC had earlier issued instructions for enforcing provisions of Model Code of Conduct in its entirety with the stipulation that such provisions of the code will be enforceable in the districts in which the Assembly/ Parliamentary constituency is situated.