New Delhi, Feb 5: The Election Commission requested on Monday that political parties refrain from using minors in any way during the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, including through the distribution of flyers and brochures or sloganeering. The poll panel expressed its “zero tolerance” for parties and candidates using minors in any way throughout the election process in a letter to the parties. According to the poll watchdog, political figures and candidates should refrain from using kids in any way when running for office, including holding them in their arms, transporting them in cars, or using them at rallies.This ban includes using kids to pretend to be in a political campaign in any way, such as through spoken words, poetry, music, or the exhibition of a political party or candidate’s emblem, the EC stated in a statement. It stated, however, that the simple fact that a child is with their parent or guardian while they are near a political figure who is not engaged in any political party election campaigns will not be seen as a breach of the rules. In light of the upcoming parliamentary elections, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has repeatedly underlined the critical role that political parties play as the EC’s primary stakeholders and urged them to actively participate in defending democratic norms.
