Political parties issuing whip tantamount to undue influence: EC

New Delhi, July 17 (UNI) In a significant decision on the petition filed by the National Democratic Alliance, the Election Commission today clarified that a political party cannot issue any direction or a whip to its members to vote in the Presidential polls as it would tantamout to undue influence under section 171c of the IPC.

Giving its clarification 48 hours ahead of the presidential poll, stated for July 19, the EC said the elector in every Presidential election has the freedom to vote or not to vote at the election as per his own free will and choice without attracting disqualification provisions. This will equally apply to political parties and they were free to canvas or seek votes of electors for any candidate or to reqeust or appeal to them to refrain from voting.

The Commission also ruled that the exercise of voting by an elector as per his own free will at the presidential election will not come within the ambit of disqualification under 10th Schedule of the Constitution and electors were at liberty to vote or not to vote at the Presidential election as per their own free will and choice.

UNI