Click to play videoNew Delhi: This election is seeing the highest expenditure ever by political parties. Now the election commission says a more or less caretaker government will have to look to for any new model code of conduct.
No more foundation stones and new projects to rake in the votes, and no telling the tax payer about how India is shining. The pre poll advertising binge has now finally come to an end. The voter will now have nearly 45 days to work out whether what he's been bombarded with is really true.
"The model code comes into effect right now,'' said Cheif Election Commissioner of India N Gopalaswami.
So what does the model code really mean? For the government anything which affects the outcome of the polls is out.
This means no more new policy decision, no ad hoc appointments, no new projects being inaugurated or foundations laid and no using government transport and even accommodation unless its for official work.
However, that doesn't mean that the government comes to a halt.
"Constitutional work will continue," said Union Cabinet Minister of Law and Justice, Hansraj Bhardwaj
BJP has warned it will keep a strict watch and point out every violation of the code.
"The government has been reduced to a caretaker status and its principle job is simply ensuring that day to day work gets done," said BJP leader Prakash Javadekar.
The slew of pre poll sops now comes to a screeching halt with the reins of governance moving practically into the election commission's hands.
So now not only is the government dependent on the election commission for any important decisions but given the sharp divisions within the commission, one should be prepared for a hawk eyed implementation of the model code.
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