PTC Web Desk: In anticipation of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission issued a directive on Monday urging political parties to refrain from involving children in campaign activities, encompassing the distribution of posters, pamphlets, and sloganeering. The advisory underscores the Election Commission’s firm stance, expressing “zero tolerance” towards the use of children by parties and candidates during the electoral process.
The Election Commission explicitly instructed political leaders and candidates to abstain from utilising children for campaign activities, encompassing actions such as holding a child in their arms, transporting a child in a vehicle, or featuring children at rallies in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.
The prohibition extends to any attempts to create the appearance of a political campaign through the use of children, including poems, songs, spoken words, or the display of political party or candidate insignia, as stated in the EC’s released statement.
However, the advisory clarified that the mere presence of a child accompanied by their parent or guardian near a political leader, without the child being involved in any election campaigning activity, will not be considered a violation of the guidelines.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has consistently stressed the pivotal role of political parties as key stakeholders for the Election Commission. He has urged them to actively collaborate in upholding democratic values, particularly in light of the forthcoming parliamentary polls.
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