The Election Commission has issued a notice to the organisers of an iftar party held on a busy road in Karnataka's Mangalore on Friday. The notice was prompted by viral videos on social media showing rows of chairs and food plates arranged on one side of the road at the Mudipu Junction area.
Iftar, a meal observed daily during Ramadan after sunset, marks the breaking of the fast for Muslims. However, the decision to host the iftar party on a public road instead of indoors or at a public hall raised questions among social media users.
Attended by rickshaw drivers, traders, and locals of the area, the Iftar party drew attention for causing public nuisance by blocking the road.
The Election Commission served the notice to the organiser, identified as Abu Bakar, in light of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) enforced in Karnataka following the announcement of the Lok Sabha polls schedule.
Under the MCC, the administration is directly under the control of the Election Commission, which allows it to take action to address concerns regarding public gatherings and events during this period.
The Model Code of Conduct (MCC), issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI), serves as a crucial set of guidelines to regulate political parties and candidates in the lead-up to elections. Covering a wide array of issues ranging from speeches to general conduct, the MCC aims to ensure the smooth conduct of free and fair elections.
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The MCC imposes various restrictions and provisions, including regulations on general conduct, meetings, processions, polling day activities, polling booths, observers, the conduct of the party in power, and the content of election manifestos.
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Election Commission has announced that polling across the nation would be conducted in seven phases. In Karnataka, voting will take place in two phases and dates are April 26 and May 7.