Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission on Friday asked parties and their leaders to refrain from seeking votes on the basis of caste, religion and language, and not insult the devotee-deity relation or make any suggestion of a divine censure.
Temples, mosques, churches, gurdwaras or any other place of worship should not be used for poll propaganda or electioneering, the commission said in its advisory to parties, warning their candidates and star campaigners they will face stern action, rather than just ‘moral censure’ as is the practice, for any violation of Model Code of Conduct.
The poll authority has issued advisories to parties in the past too, but the latest one comes ahead of the parliamentary elections.
It said that the star campaigners and candidates who have received notices in past will face stern action for repeat violation of model code.