Model Code of Conduct Comes into Effect, Parties to Upload Expense Reports Online

Hyderabad: Chief electoral officer Vikas Raj on Monday confirmed that the model code of conduct (MCC) has come into effect, following the announcement of the Assembly election schedule. He said that in a first, they are introducing an integrated expenditure monitoring software (IEMS) to facilitate the online filing of contribution reports, election expenditure statements and audited annual accounts by political parties.

Addressing mediapersons, Vikas Raj said that all the provisions of the MCC are in effect in Telangana for all candidates, political parties and the government. He said that political parties can fill in details on expenses and audits and upload statements to https://iems.eci.gov.in/.

“This facility has been created to enable political parties to file the statutory and regulatory compliances, reports and statements in a hassle-free, smooth manner and with greater transparency. All political parties are urged to file their financial reports through IEMS portal,” Vikas Raj said.

As per the ECI’s instructions, candidates are required to fill all the columns in the affidavit that is submitted with the nominations. If any column in the affidavit is left blank, the returning officer will issue a notice to the candidate to file a revised affidavit. After such notice, if a candidate fails to file a revised affidavit, complete in all respects, the nomination will be liable to rejection at the time of scrutiny.

Vikas Raj said that district election officers were asked to prepare a comprehensive district election management plan in consultation with the superintendents of police (SPs), including the route plan and the communication plan, for conducting elections. “These will be vetted by the observer, taking into account vulnerability mapping exercise and mapping of critical polling stations, in accordance with Election Commission of India’s extant instructions,” he said.