Election Commission asks Law Ministry: Can we allow PIOs to campaign in Indian polls

August 21,2017:

Indian election law is silent on as to who can campaign in Indian Elections.

If the people of the Indian origin (PIOs) campaign in Lok Sabha and the assembly elections in country, will they violate their visa conditions?

The question has been posed to Law Ministry by Election Commission as the election law is silent on as to who can campaign in Indian elections.

During recently-held Punjab assembly elections, where several PIOs came to state to campaign for AAP, Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab had raised the query with commission on Whether this category of the people can do so.

There has been no complaint from any party in this regard.But CEO raised a query as it was a new situation.

As Representation of the People Act or related electoral rules are silent on issue, Commission then sought an answer from Ministry of External Affairs.

The Law Ministry wanted to know the reasons behind Commission's query. After being given details and background by EC, Ministry is yet to respond to poll panel.

PIOs are not Indian citizens. They visit India on the visa explaining purpose of visit official, personal or tourism.

The Commission functionary stated that,"Since the election campaign is not one of purposes, we wanted to know whether coming on a private visit visa they can campaign in the elections".

Source PTI

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