Kerala’s Chief Electoral Officer has made it clear to parties, which are busy putting together their campaign agenda, that political grandstanding over Sabarimala will amount to violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

The clarification is seen a setback to the players on either side of the Sabarimala divide, who had dreamt of reaping political dividends through the 40-odd days left for campaigning.

Code of Conduct

Addressing the media here on Monday, Chief Electoral Officer Tika Ram Meena reminded parties that the Model Code of Conduct has come into existence.

Officials have been briefed on the nature of the restrictions, which would be issued soon. Parties have also been barred also from interpreting the Supreme Court verdict in the Sabarimala case on the campaign trail.

Invoking religion or God otherwise too would amount to a violation of the model code, Meena said. He said this in reply to specific questions on whether Sabarimala could figure as a campaign issue.

The Chief Electoral Officer also warned parties against any attempt to communalise the matter and polarise voters. He will soon convene a meeting of various parties to discuss the matter.

While the BJP and the Congress found themselves rubbing shoulders on one side of the Sabarimala divide, the CPI(M) and the larger ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) had occupied the other end.

The Pinarayi Vijayan-led State government had taken the view that the Constitution reigned supreme while the BJP and the Congress argued that rituals and traditions ruled above all. It remains to be seen how the political class responds to the CEC’s observations but he has seemingly kept the doors open by convening a meeting to discuss with them the issue at hand.

Meena also dropped hints to the effect that he would not be averse to seeking a middle ground by prescribing “reasonable limits” within which the issue could be raised, if at all, on the campaign front.

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