Coimbatore: Coimbatore Consumer Cause, an NGO, has urged the Election Commission of India to restore mandatory scrutiny of election manifestos issued by political parties under the model code of conduct and initiate corrective action against non-compliant parties in the larger interest of democracy.Pointing to the widespread and largely unchecked practice of political parties announcing large-scale electoral freebies in their manifestos with the primary objective of influencing voters and gaining electoral advantage, Kathirmathiyon, secretary, Coimbatore Consumer Cause, said in a representation to the election commission that the Supreme Court had taken serious note of this trend and observed that such populist promises would shake the roots of democracy. The court also had directed the election commission to frame appropriate guidelines. Accordingly, Part VIII – guidelines on election manifestos – was introduced under the model code of conduct, he said. “The guidelines mandate that manifestos should clearly explain the rationale behind promises and broadly indicate the financial means to fulfil them. Political parties are also required to submit hard and soft copies of their manifestos within three days of release, along with a declaration confirming compliance with the model code of conduct.” He recalled that during the 2016 Tamil Nadu assembly election, the election commission had scrutinized party manifestos, issued notices to two major political parties for non-compliance, and advised strict adherence to the guidelines in future elections. “However, in subsequent elections scrutiny and enforcement have virtually been abandoned.” While acknowledging that genuine welfare schemes aimed at poverty alleviation were essential, he stressed that a distinction must be maintained between legitimate welfare measures and vote-oriented freebies. “Unchecked promises undermine fiscal discipline, distort informed voter choice, and weaken the principles of free and fair elections,” he said.
