Tamil Nadu Election 2026: Election Commission Rules, Model Code Of Conduct And What Candidates Cannot Do

Last Updated:April 04, 2026, 16:00 IST

Election Commission rules and Model Code of Conduct for Tamil Nadu Assembly Election 2026: ECI enforces Model Code of Conduct for Tamil Nadu polls on April 23.

With the Tamil Nadu Assembly election scheduled for April 23, 2026, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has activated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), setting the rules for political parties, candidates and governments during the campaign period. The code is meant to ensure a level playing field and prevent misuse of money, state machinery, religion or intimidation in the run-up to polling.

When does the Model Code of Conduct begin?

The MCC comes into force immediately after the Election Commission announces the poll schedule and remains in effect until the election process is completed. Once in place, governments are restricted from announcing new schemes, laying foundation stones, making ad-heavy publicity pushes or taking decisions that could influence voters.

In practical terms, this means the campaign is no longer just political theatre it becomes a tightly regulated process governed by the ECI’s instructions, the Representation of the People Act, and the Conduct of Election Rules.

What candidates must do before and during the election

Every candidate contesting the Tamil Nadu election must file a nomination, submit a self-sworn affidavit (Form 26) and disclose key personal and legal details. These include:

• criminal cases, if any
• assets and liabilities
• educational qualifications
• PAN and income tax filing status
• liabilities to the government or public financial institutions

These disclosures are meant to help voters make an informed choice before polling day.

Candidates with criminal antecedents face an additional disclosure burden. They are required to publicise their pending criminal cases in newspapers and on television three times during the campaign period. Political parties that field such candidates must also publish the criminal background and explain why the candidate was chosen.

What candidates cannot do

1) They cannot bribe or induce voters

Candidates are barred from offering cash, gifts, liquor, freebies, or any material inducement in exchange for votes. Direct or indirect bribery is treated as an electoral offence and can attract action under election law. Threatening, coercing or unduly influencing voters is also prohibited.

2) They cannot seek votes in the name of religion, caste or community

The Election Commission prohibits appeals to religion, caste, communal identity or language to secure votes. Hate speech, inflammatory rhetoric, and attempts to polarise communities are violations that can trigger notices, FIRs and campaign restrictions.

3) They cannot use government machinery for campaigning

Candidates in power or those backed by ruling parties cannot use official vehicles, government staff, public buildings or state resources for electioneering. Ministers and office-bearers also cannot combine official visits with campaign activity in a way that gives them an unfair advantage.

4) They cannot overspend beyond the legal election limit

Every candidate must maintain a separate and accurate account of election expenditure from the date of nomination to the declaration of results. The ECI handbook says spending above the prescribed ceiling can amount to a corrupt practice under election law. Candidates must keep records of rallies, vehicles, posters, campaign material and other expenses.

They are also required to open and use a designated election bank account, and most payments above the permitted cash threshold must be made through traceable banking channels.

5) They cannot hide campaign spending

Under-reporting or failing to maintain accounts can land a candidate in trouble even after polling. The ECI requires contesting candidates to lodge their election expense accounts within the prescribed time after the results, and failure to do so can invite disqualification proceedings.

6) They cannot violate the campaign silence period

Campaigning must stop 48 hours before polling begins. During this “silence period", candidates and parties cannot hold public meetings, roadshows or aggressive canvassing meant to influence voters just before they cast their ballots.

7) They cannot misuse processions, rallies or vehicles

Candidates must account for campaign vehicles and public rallies, and cannot disguise campaign mobilisation as private support. The ECI’s expenditure rules make clear that vehicles or public displays used for the benefit of a candidate can be added to their election expense account.

What happens if a candidate breaks the rules?

Violations can lead to show-cause notices, FIRs, campaign bans, seizure of cash or goods, censure, and in serious cases, disqualification or election petitions after the results. While not every MCC violation leads to immediate removal from the race, repeated or serious breaches can have legal and political consequences.

The Election Commission also deploys flying squads, expenditure observers, surveillance teams and video monitoring units to keep watch over campaign activities, especially in high-stakes states like Tamil Nadu where money power has often been a concern in previous elections.

Why this matters in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu’s elections are traditionally marked by intense campaigning, star campaigners, large rallies and close monitoring of money flow. In that context, the EC’s rules are not procedural formalities they shape how parties can campaign, how candidates must present themselves, and how voters are expected to receive information before polling day.

As campaigning heats up, the 2026 election will not just be a test of political strength, but also of how strictly candidates and parties stay within the Election Commission’s lines.

News india Tamil Nadu Election 2026: Election Commission Rules, Model Code Of Conduct And What Candidates Cannot Do

Read More