Amidst snake and ‘vishakanya’ remarks in Karnataka, a stern warning from EC

With personal attacks being made galore, the Election Commission of India has asked political parties and their star campaigners to exercise caution and restraint in their utterances and also not to vitiate the election atmosphere.

The advisory by the top election body came in the wake of comments such as poisonous snake, 'vishkanya' and 'nalayak' being ,made in the poll bound state of Karnataka. The state voters on May 10 and results will be out on May 13.

"Such instances have occasioned various complaints, cross complaints and have also attracted negative media attention," the election body said in a statement.

The campaign is hotting up with all top leaders across party visiting the state. Both the BJP and Congress have moved the poll body seeking action against each other.

"It is imperative for all parties and stakeholders to remain within the confines of the Model Code of Conduct and the legal framework in their utterances while campaigning so as to maintain the dignity of the political discourse and not to vitiate the campaign and the election atmosphere," said the advisory.

"The spirit of the MCC is not just avoidance of a direct violation, it also prohibits attempts to vitiate the electoral space through suggestive or indirect statements or innuendoes," the statement also read.

"The Commission, in collaboration and consultation with all stakeholders, in particular, the political parties and the candidates, has invested efforts in encouraging all stakeholders to maintain a level of political discourse during campaigning which is befitting the widespread admiration and standing of Indian democracy worldwide," the Election Commission also said.

Earlier a delegation of the BJP met with the members of the Election Commission and raised the issue of the Congress promising tough action against the Bajrang Dal in its manifesto. A BJP source tells OneIndia that the issue was raised orally by the BJP with the poll body.

On the other hand the Congress too met with the Election Commission officials and accused the BJP of making hate speeches.