The Model Code of Conduct Explained: What Changes When Elections Are Announced

On 15 March 2026, the Election Commission announced the schedule for the Tamil Nadu Assembly election — polling on 23 April and counting on 4 May. Almost immediately, you may have noticed changes: some posters disappeared from public walls, new government announcements stopped, and news channels started talking about the “MCC”.

That is the Model Code of Conduct. Let’s understand what it is and why it matters to ordinary voters like us.

📘 What Is the Model Code of Conduct?

The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India for political parties, candidates and governments during elections. Its aim is simple: a level playing field and a peaceful, fair campaign.

Interestingly, the MCC is not a law passed by Parliament. It grew out of consensus among political parties — an early version was used in the Kerala Assembly election of 1960 — and the ECI has expanded it over the years. Its authority comes from the Commission’s constitutional powers under Article 324, and many actions it covers (like bribing voters) are also offences under criminal and election laws.

⏳ When Does It Apply?

The MCC comes into force the moment the election schedule is announced and stays until the election process is complete. In an Assembly election it applies to that state; in a Lok Sabha election, to the whole country.

🚦 What It Says, in Simple Words

For parties and candidates

• No appeals to caste or communal feelings to get votes.
• Places of worship must not be used for election propaganda.
• Criticism should be about policies, programmes and past work — not the private lives of rivals.
• Rallies and processions need prior permission and must not disturb public order.
• No bribing, threatening or impersonating voters.

For the party or parties in government

• No new schemes, projects, grants or promises that could influence voters, though work already underway can generally continue.
• No use of official vehicles, staff or government buildings for campaigning.
• No government-funded advertisements highlighting achievements during the election period.
• Ministers should not mix official visits with campaign work.

Around polling day

• Public campaigning must stop 48 hours before the end of polling — often called the silence period.
• Only authorised people are allowed inside polling stations.

Candidates also have a spending limit. For Assembly constituencies in larger states like Tamil Nadu, it is ₹40 lakh per candidate, and every candidate must submit an account of expenses.

🤖 New Rules for a New Age

Campaigns now happen as much on phones as on streets. In October 2025, the ECI issued an advisory asking parties to clearly label AI-generated or synthetic content — the label should cover at least 10% of the visible area — and to remove misleading AI content from their official handles within three hours of it being flagged. To understand how convincing fake audio and video have become, read my post on deepfake calls and AI voice scams.

📱 How Citizens Can Report a Violation

You don’t have to be a journalist to keep an election clean. The ECI’s cVIGIL app lets any citizen report a suspected violation — like distribution of cash, gifts or liquor, or unauthorised posters — by uploading a live photo or video. The location is captured automatically, a flying squad is sent, and the ECI aims to act within about 100 minutes. You can also call the voter helpline 1950.

A few tips:

• Report facts, not rumours. Capture what you see clearly.
• Never put yourself in danger to take a photo.
• Don’t forward unverified “violation” videos on social media — report them instead.

“Fair rules are not for one side. They protect every voter equally.”

✅ The Takeaway

The Model Code of Conduct is a promise that, for a few weeks, every party plays by the same rules. Understanding it helps us notice when something isn’t right — and gives us a simple way to speak up. Before polling day, please also check your name on the electoral roll. For official MCC documents, visit eci.gov.in.