GUWAHATI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken a strong stance against political parties and candidates engaging in activities that seek to gather voter information under the pretence of surveys for proposed beneficiary schemes. The Commission views these activities as potentially constituting corrupt practices of bribery under Section 123(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
In an advisory issued on Wednesday, May 1, the ECI noted that some political parties and candidates are blurring the lines between legitimate surveys and partisan efforts to register individuals for post-election beneficiary-oriented schemes. This, the commission asserts, could create a quid-pro-quo arrangement where voters feel compelled to vote for a particular party in exchange for promised benefits.
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The commission's advisory directs all national and state political parties to immediately cease and desist from any activities that involve registering individuals for post-election beneficiary-oriented schemes through advertisements, surveys, or mobile applications. It states that these practices have the potential to influence voters' decisions by promising benefits in return for their votes.
The ECI highlights that while general electoral promises are permissible, the specific activities described in the advisory cross into dangerous territory. They obscure the distinction between genuine surveys and biased attempts to gain political advantage by collecting personal voter information.
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The ECI has directed all district election officers to take appropriate action against any such advertisements or surveys, with reference to statutory provisions such as Section 127A and 123(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Section 171 (B) of the Indian Penal Code.
In its advisory, the ECI provides examples of activities that are considered violations:
• Newspaper advertisements encouraging individual voters to register for benefits by giving missed calls or calling a specific telephone number.
• Distribution of guarantee cards or pamphlets detailing prospective individual benefits, along with forms seeking personal information such as name, address, phone number, and more.
• Distribution of forms seeking personal information under the guise of socio-economic surveys for expanding existing government benefit schemes.
• Circulation of web platforms or mobile applications by political parties or candidates, asking for personal details from voters.
• Newspaper advertisements or physical forms for existing benefit schemes that require personal information from voters for registration.
