| Syllabus: GS-II, Subject: Polity, Topic: Elections and RPA, Issue: Election Process |
Context: The Election Commission of India (ECI) emphasized the importance of a level playing field (LPF) in 2024 general elections.
Level playing field (LPF)-Significance
- Crucial for ensuring fair democratic elections.
- Ensures fairness in the electoral process, despite inherent inequalities among contestants.
Model code of conduct (MCC) ensuring Level Playing Field:
- The MCC refers to a set of guidelines and rules that regulate the behavior of political parties and candidates during elections.
- Regulates behavior during elections, applies to candidates, political parties, and the ruling party separately.
- Prevent actions that could disrupt the electoral process or provide undue advantage to the ruling party.
- Evolved over time to address emerging challenges and maintain democratic integrity.
The way ahead:
- Balancing adherence to established rules with the need for fair elections poses a challenge for the ECI.
- The spirit of fairness embodied in the MCC must guide its enforcement to uphold the principles of free and fair elections.
