EC urges leaders to avoid hurtful comments

Political leaders should not make comments which will hurt someone's sentiments during the electioneering for the Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission said today.

Election Commissioner H S Brahma urged the campaigners of political parties and other leaders to refrain from making personal comments.

"We would appeal to all the political parties, their star campaigners and other leaders that they should not use words which will hurt somebody. They should avoid using such comments," Brahma told reporters when asked about the EC's views on the subject.

Political leaders at times use certain comments against each other and the EC has to then intervene and issue reprimands.

The EC, which announced the schedule for the Parliamentary polls and those for the assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Odisha today, said the planning of polling days spread over nine phases have been done keeping in mind the aim to ensure that the maximum number of voters come out to vote.

CEC Sampath said the poll panel has also taken care and prepared the schedule in such a manner that the vulnerable sections of voters are amply enabled to participate in the electoral process.