NEW DELHI — The Election Commission of India (ECI) has placed five states and one Union Territory under strict administrative surveillance following the activation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the 2026 Assembly Elections. In a massive logistical undertaking, the Commission has deployed over 5,173 Flying Squads and 5,200 Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs) to ensure a level playing field and to curb the influence of “money and muscle power” across the polling regions.
The directives issued on Monday, March 16, 2026, cover the upcoming general elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry, as well as crucial by-elections in six other states. The MCC is now also applicable to the Central Government regarding any policy decisions or announcements specific to these regions.
Zero-Tolerance for Violations: The “100-Minute” Rule
A core pillar of this year’s enforcement is the C-Vigil App. The ECI has promised that any complaint lodged via the app or the 1950 Call Centre will be attended to by flying squads within a 100-minute window.
To maintain the integrity of the process, the Commission has issued several “hard-line” rules:
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Property Respect: Land, buildings, or private walls cannot be used for any campaign material (flags, banners, posters) without the explicit written consent of the owner.
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Government Neutrality: Ministers are strictly forbidden from combining official duties with electioneering. Use of government machinery, vehicles, or personnel for campaigning is a direct violation that will trigger immediate disciplinary action.
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Public Spaces: The SUVIDHA module on ECINET has been activated to manage the allocation of public grounds and helipads on a “first-come, first-served” basis, preventing any single party from monopolizing key campaign locations.
Election Calendar at a Glance
The 2026 elections involve a massive electorate of 17.4 crore voters across 824 constituencies.
By-Elections and Security Measures
In addition to the assembly polls, by-elections will take place for six seats in Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland, and Tripura. To manage this scale, approximately 25 lakh personnel are being deployed to man 2.19 lakh polling stations.
The ECI has also mandated that political parties provide advance notice to local police for all processions and meetings to ensure traffic management and public safety. With the terms of current assemblies set to expire between May and June, the Commission emphasized that officials at all levels must act with total impartiality to maintain the “credibility of the democratic process.”
