The poll panel’s order comes weeks after the Telangana Assembly was dissolved prematurely by the TRS government.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday issued directions that on premature dissolution of a Legislative Assembly, the Model Code of Conduct will immediately come into effect and will continue to be in force till the completion of fresh polls for constituting a new House.
The order, which comes weeks after the Telangana Assembly was dissolved prematurely by the TRS government, has been issued in view of the Supreme Court observations in the S. R. Bommai and Others Vs Union of India and Others (1994).
The order states that the caretaker government should merely carry on day-to-day work and desist from taking any major policy decision.
The provisions of Part-VII of Model Code of Conduct, which is applicable to the party in power, will “apply on the caretaker State government as well as on the Central government insofar as matters relating to that State are concerned”.
Consequently, neither the caretaker State government nor the Central government can announce any new schemes or projects in respect of the poll-bound State or undertake any of the activities prohibited under the Model Code of Conduct.
“All other prohibitions under Part-VII, such as use of official resources for any non-official purposes, combining of official visit with electioneering work, etc. shall apply on all Ministers and other authorities of the caretaker State government, the Central government as well as governments of other States,” said the order.
