In Puducherry, the Election Commission has issued detailed guidelines regarding election manifestos for the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections 2026, in line with the Model Code of Conduct.

 

According to the guidelines, political parties must submit three copies of their election manifesto to the Chief Electoral Officer within three days of its release. If the manifesto is published in a regional language, an English translation must also be provided.

 

The Commission has also directed that parties submit a declaration confirming that all promises and schemes mentioned in the manifesto comply with the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct.

 

To ensure transparency and credibility, parties have been advised to clearly indicate the rationale behind their promises, the financial resources required, and the plan for implementation. The Commission emphasised that only realistic and implementable promises should be made to gain public trust.

 

Puducherry Chief Electoral Officer Jawahar instructed that no manifestos shall be released during the 48-hour silence period before the close of polling, as per the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The Election Commission has urged all political parties and candidates to strictly follow these guidelines.