New Delhi: Amid the high-intensity political drama in the poll-bound State of Karnataka, the Election Commission of India on Tuesday issued an advisory to all-star campaigners, and recognized national & state political parties in view of the "plummeting level of campaign discourse in the ongoing General Election to Karnataka Legislative Assembly" and, advises them to "exercise caution and restraint in their utterances to maintain a high standard of discourse".
Issuing a statement on Tuesday in the backdrop of recent statements made by the ruling and the opposition parties during their public speeches, the poll body said "The Commission’s attention has recently been brought to the instances of inappropriate vocabulary and language used during the ongoing campaign by persons, in particular, by those invested with the statutory status of star campaigner."
"Such instances have occasioned various complaints, cross complaints and have also attracted negative media attention", it added. "It is imperative for all parties and stakeholders to remain within the confines of the Model Code of Conduct and the legal framework in their utterances while campaigning so as to maintain the dignity of the political discourse and not to vitiate the campaign and the election atmosphere", said.
It further added that "They are thus expected to contribute in maintaining and raising the level of discourse to “issue” based debate, provide pan India perspective, depth to the local discourse and to reassure all sections of electors to participate fully and fearlessly in a free and fair election.”
