Taking a dim view of the ?provocative statements? made by Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi as well as Congress president Sonia Gandhi, the Election Commission(EC) is likely to ask them to desist from such actions and maintain decorum in coming days.
According to sources, the poll body however, is unlikely to take stringent action against Modi or Gandhi or any other to whom notices were served last week over vitriolic comments that they reportedly made during their poll campaign in Gujarat.
The action by the EC, sources said, would be along similar lines taken in the ?communal CD? controversy in Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.when the poll panel did not take punitive measures but cautioned the BJP.
The EC directive, expected at the end of this week, will advise political parties to restrain from using ?provocative? language during speeches and campaigns. According to commission sources, punishments are given only during extreme situation. ?We don?t want to worsen the situation. A fresh directive will be issued soon,? a senior poll panel official told FE.
Reminding the political parties of the clauses in the code of conduct, the official added, ?No party should try to divide the voters in the lines of religion or caste. Criticism or comments should be confined to policies and programmes of the parties, not to individuals.?