The Election Commission said Bharatiya Janata Party’s promise of providing free coronavirus vaccine in its manifesto for poll-bound Bihar not violative of the provisions of the model code of conduct.
The commission was responding to a complaint filed by RTI activist Saket Gokhale. The EC said it has found no violation of the provisions of the model code in the issue. “…No violation of any of the provisions of Model Code of Conduct has been observed…,” the commission said.
The commission cited certain guidelines for election manifestos contained in Part VIII of the Model Code of Conduct to conclude that the free vaccine promise was not violative of it.
“The Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the Constitution enjoin upon the State to frame various welfare measures for the citizens and therefore there can be no objection to the promise of such welfare in election manifesto,” one of the provisions quoted by the EC said.