New Delhi: election committee Sunday said it is the prerogative of the sitting government (Central or state) to issue announcements and policy decisions before the polls are announced. Announcing the assembly poll schedule for West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry, the panel said the model code of conduct, which prohibits the government from issuing any new announcements, will come into effect only from the time the election date is officially announced. Answer to question on whether Bengal CM has issued announcements including providing allowances to state government employees Mamata Banerjee Less than an hour before the Election Commission announced the polling schedule, Central Election Commission Gyanesh Kumar said, “It is a violation that the model code of conduct comes into effect after the election results are announced and not before.” There have been instances of sitting governments announcing decisions before the code came into effect, including providing financial aid to beneficiaries, with the opposition often labeling these as “incentives” to influence voting. Several reporters on Sunday mentioned that Nitish Kumar’s government in Bihar has provided financial assistance of Rs 10,000 to women ahead of the 2025 assembly elections and MK Stalin’s government in TN has deposited Rs 6,550 crore into the bank accounts of over 1.3 crore women as of February 17. TMC chief Mamata announced stipends for thousands of state government employees on Bengal BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari called the DA’s announcement a “joke” on
