Overview
- The Election Commission wrote to chief secretaries and chief electoral officers on Monday, November 9, extending Model Code of Conduct rules to retired, re-employed or otherwise engaged officials in Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
- The directive requires these individuals to remain politically neutral and forbids them from taking part in campaigns, canvassing, or using their former office, name or authority to favour any party or candidate.
- The letter explicitly bars such people from summoning or holding meetings or video conferences with election-related officers in constituencies or districts where polls have been announced.
- The ECI warned that any act or omission that violates its directions will be viewed seriously and asked state administrations to circulate the instructions and enforce them during the MCC period.
- The step responds to repeated complaints that rehired retirees were influencing election work and follows earlier ECI measures such as October 27 transfer directions; its impact will depend on how promptly states implement and police the rules ahead of the 2027 assembly polls.