Election campaign begins ahead of 13th national polls

Election campaigning for the 13th national polls began today (22 January) as the Election Commission (EC) completed the allocation of symbols to nearly 2,000 candidates contesting in the polls across the country.

A total of 1,981 candidates will compete in the 298 constituencies out of 300, the EC said while giving reminder to the contenders that campaigning must comply with its code of conduct, which sets limits on rallies, use of campaign materials and the loudspeakers, and requires all activities to end 48 hours before polling day.

Polling is scheduled for 12 February, with voting to take place from morning until late afternoon.

EC's Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates 2025 stated that no registered political party, nominated candidate, independent candidate, or their representatives may begin election campaigning more than three weeks before polling day. 

Campaigning must end 48 hours (10 February) before the start of voting.

 
The code ensures equal rights for all candidates during campaigning. It strictly prohibits any obstruction, disruption, or intimidation of rival candidates' meetings, processions, or other campaign activities.

Parties and candidates are required to submit their proposed campaign programmes to the appropriate authorities before starting activities. 

If multiple parties or candidates plan to hold programmes at the same venue and time, the authorities will coordinate them as necessary.

Public meetings, roadside gatherings, or rallies cannot be held at places, roads, highways, or thoroughfares where public movement may be disrupted. 

Similarly, no representative of any party or candidate may organise events that cause any sorts of obstruction.

The code also bans political parties and candidates from holding public meetings, rallies, or campaign activities abroad in connection with the election.

The EC Code of Conduct also outlined that posters of any kind are prohibited in election campaigning. 

Campaign leaflets, handbills, festoons and banners must not be produced with non-biodegradable materials such as rexine, polythene, plastic or any other environmentally harmful substances.

No candidate or their representatives may affix campaign materials on buildings, walls, trees, fences, electricity or telephone poles, government or local authority installations, or on vehicles including buses, trucks, trains, steamers, launches, rickshaws, auto-rickshaws, lagunas, taxis and baby-taxis within the electoral area. 

Candidates are also barred from placing banners, festoons or billboards over those of rivals, or from damaging or destroying them.

Except for electronic and digital media, all banners, leaflets, handbills and festoons must be printed in black and white. 

Banners may not exceed 10 feet by 4 feet, leaflets or handbills must remain within A4 size, and festoons must not be larger than 18 inches by 24 inches. Campaign materials may only feature the candidate's own photograph and election symbol.

The code prohibits processions, public meetings or showdowns using buses, trucks, motorcycles, watercraft or any other mechanical vehicles. 

Torch processions, with or without vehicles, are banned. 

Helicopters or aircraft may not be used for campaigning, though party chiefs, general secretaries or equivalent office holders may use helicopters for travel purposes only. During such travel, no campaign materials may be displayed, distributed or dropped.

Besides, wall writing or drawings for election campaigning are strictly forbidden. Similarly, parties and candidates may not construct gates, arches, pandals, camps or illumination structures that obstruct public movement.

Regarding billboards, the code allows campaign use provided the portion does not exceed 16 feet by 9 feet. 

Each union, municipality or ward within a parliamentary constituency may have only one billboard, or a maximum of 20 billboards across the constituency, whichever is greater. No additional billboards may be used beyond this limit.

The code also bars provocative speeches or statements, unruly behaviour, carrying explosives and campaigning at religious places. 

No registered political party, its nominated candidate, any independent candidate or any person on their behalf may engage in personal slander, indecent, aggressive or character-assassinating remarks, or make bitter, provocative, defamatory statements or statements that hurt gender sensitivity, communal harmony or religious sentiments during election campaigning. 

Election campaigning is strictly prohibited in mosques, temples, pagodas, churches or any other religious places of worship, as well as in government offices and educational institutions.

Regarding election campaigning on social media, the code allows candidates, their election agents, or representatives to conduct election campaigns through social media platforms.

However, before commencing such activities, they must submit to the Returning Officer the names of the platforms, account IDs, email IDs and other identifying information.

The use of artificial intelligence with dishonest intent in election campaigning or election-related matters is prohibited. 

Creating or spreading hateful speech, misinformation, manipulated images, fabricated election-related information or any other harmful content is also barred. 

No one may use hateful speech, personal attacks or provocative language targeting rivals, women, minorities or any other community, nor may religious or ethnic sentiments be exploited for electoral gain.

Election-related content may not be shared or published on social media without verification of its authenticity. 

The EC has also prohibited political parties, candidates or their representatives from creating, publishing, promoting or sharing any false, misleading, biased, hateful, obscene or defamatory content. 

These include content generated through editing or artificial intelligence, with intent to mislead voters or damage the reputation of any candidate or individual.

Regarding the use of microphones and loudspeakers, no candidate or their representatives may use more than three microphones or loudspeakers simultaneously at a single public meeting within one electoral area. 

The restriction does not apply to general campaigning. During the campaign period, microphones or sound-amplifying devices may only be used between 2pm and 8pm, and the sound level must not exceed 60 decibels.