Don’t use children in poll campaign, Election Commission tells parties

New Delhi, February 5

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With the Lok Sabha elections just couple of months away, the Election Commission today directed political parties and candidates not to employ children in any form of election campaigning process.

Emphasising its zero-tolerance policy on the use of children in any election-related activities, the EC, in an advisory to all parties, said they should not involve children in any manner, including “holding a child in arms, carrying a child in a vehicle or in a rally”.

“This prohibition extends to the use of children to create the semblance of a political campaign in any manner including use through poem, songs, spoken words, display of insignia of political party or candidate,” the EC said.

“However, the mere presence of a child accompanied by their parent or guardian in proximity of a political leader and who is not involved in any election campaigning activity by the party, will not be construed as a violation of the guidelines,” it added.