'Cant use govt bungalows, ban on transfer-postings': What's after Lok Sabha Elections 2024 schedule announcement

On Saturday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) will announce the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 schedule and officially blow the poll bugle. The Lok Sabha Election 2024 is the world's biggest election with 97 crore registered voters all set to choose their representatives in the lower house of the Parliament and ultimately Prime Minister of India. While the BJP lead NDA will look to carry on their winning momentum as Narendra Modi's leader, the opposition block has united and strengthened its power under the I.N.D.I.A block. While the BJP is fighting with Narendra Modi as the PM face, the opposition block I.N.D.I.A has presented itself as an 'anti-BJP' force with 'no PM face'. Keeping the politics aside, once the ECI announces the 2024 Lok Sabha Election Dates, the model code of conduct will be implemented nationwide. Now, the question arises what is the model code of conduct and what will it change after the EC announces the Lok Sabha Election 2024 schedule? Below is everything you need to know- 

What is EC's Model Code of Conduct?

The Model Code of Conduct comes into effect immediately after the announcement of the election schedule by the Election Commission for the need to ensure free and fair elections. Its main purpose is to ensure that ruling parties, at the Centre and in the States, do not misuse their position of advantage to gain an unfair edge. It is designed to avert practices that are deemed corrupt under the model code of conduct. Below is What's next after Lok Sabha Elections 2024 dates announcement- 

• Leaders/candidates cannot use government vehicles or government bungalows. Any kind of government announcement/inauguration cannot be made.
• MPs cannot release new funds from the fund. Advertisement cannot be given at government expense. There is a ban on transfer/posting of officers/employees.
• No candidate or party can use religious places like temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras or other places of worship for election campaigning.
• Prohibits any activity which causes tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic.
• There shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes.
• Prohibit unauthorized use of any individual’s land, building, etc., without his permission for political purposes.
• All Political parties and candidates restrict unnecessary crowds near the polling booth. 

Current Lok Sabha Total Seats Party-Wise Decoded

NDA Block

• BJP- 290
• JDU-16
• Shivsena- 13
• Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP)- 4
• Apna Dal- 2
• NCP (Ajit Pawar)- 1
• LJP (Ram Vilas)- 1
• National People's Party- 1
• All Jharkhand Students Union- 1
• Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) - 1
• Naga People's Front- 1
• Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM)- 1
• Mizo National Front- 1

Total- 334

I.N.D.I.A Block

• Congress- 49
• DMK- 24
• TMC- 23
• Shivsena (UBT)- 6
• NCP (Sharad Pawar)- 4
• Samajwadi Party- 3
• National Conference- 3
• CPIM- 3
• Indian Union Muslim League (IUML)- 3
• CPI- 2
• Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP)- 1
• Jharkhand Mukti Morcha- 1
• Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK)- 1
• AAP- 1
• Kerala Congress (M)- 1

It is pertinent to mention here that there are 9 more parties of I.N.D.I.A block that does not have any MPs in Lok Sabha. They are- RJD, Apna Dal (K), PDP, Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist), Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), KDMK, All India Forward Bloc, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK), Kerala Congress (Joseph).