New Delhi: Promises made by political parties in their election manifestos will not be considered corrupt conduct. Citing the election law, the Supreme Court has said that promises made by political parties in their election manifestos are not corrupt conduct. A bench of Justices Suryakant and KV Vishwanathan made this remark while dismissing a petition by a voter of Chamrajpet Assembly constituency challenging the election of the Congress candidate. The petition alleged that the Congress had promised to provide financial assistance directly and indirectly in its election manifesto for the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, which amounts to corrupt electoral conduct. Dismissing the petition, the Supreme Court said that the lawyer's argument that the promises made by a political party in its manifesto, which ultimately provide financial help directly or indirectly to the public, are also equivalent to corrupt conduct by the candidate of that party, will be considered.
The Election Commission had on May 2 directed political parties not to collect voters' data in any form by distributing guarantee cards in the form of pamphlets detailing potential individual benefits, along with a form seeking details of voters. Reacting to the Supreme Court's remarks, Congress media and publicity department chief Pawan Khera said the Supreme Court order has clarified the issue once and for all.
Pawan Khera said that now the time has come for the Election Commission to introspect and free itself from the clutches of the PMO. The Election Commission has never been under the PMO before. The whole world is watching how the so-called independent institution has completely surrendered itself. The Karnataka High Court had already dismissed this petition. Voter Shashank J Sridhar had filed a petition in the court against the five promises made by the Congress during the assembly elections.
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