Election Commission has barred political parties from releasing election manifestos in the last 48 hours before polling. In a statement, the commission said, it has now made the release of election manifestos a part of the Model Code of Conduct which is a set of rules to be followed by parties after elections are announced.
Since model code is not a law, any violation leads to a reprimand by the EC. In the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections, parties cannot release manifesto in the last 48 hours before each phase on April 11, 18, 23, 29, May 6, 12 and May 19.