New Delhi, May 7: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday withdrew the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) across Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and the Union Territory of Puducherry following the completion of the 2026 Assembly election process and declaration of results. However, election restrictions will continue in West Bengal’s 144-Falta Assembly constituency, where the Commission has ordered fresh polling after cancelling the earlier voting process over alleged electoral irregularities.
In its official order, the Commission stated that the MCC, which came into force immediately after the announcement of the election schedule, has ceased to operate with immediate effect in all states and constituencies where the electoral process has concluded. The withdrawal also applies to Assembly bye-elections conducted in Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland and Tripura, where results have been formally declared by Returning Officers.
The Election Commission clarified that the poll code would remain operational only in Falta constituency of South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal because the election process there is still incomplete. The constituency will undergo a fresh election after the Commission earlier annulled the entire polling exercise conducted on April 29.
The decision to order a re-poll in Falta marked one of the strongest interventions by the Commission during the 2026 Assembly elections. On May 3, the ECI cancelled voting across all polling stations in the constituency, citing reports of severe electoral offences and widespread disruption of the democratic process.
Fresh polling in Falta is scheduled to take place on May 21 across all 285 polling stations, including auxiliary booths. Counting of votes for the constituency will be conducted on May 24.
The Commission reiterated that the Model Code of Conduct remains legally and administratively binding until the election process is fully completed in a constituency. Since fresh polling has been ordered in Falta, restrictions related to government announcements, transfers, campaign conduct and public spending will continue to remain in force there.
The MCC is a set of guidelines designed to ensure free and fair elections by regulating the conduct of political parties, candidates and governments during the election period. It comes into effect from the date the election schedule is announced and remains operational until the completion of polling and declaration of results.
Counting of votes for the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, along with Puducherry, concluded on May 4, after which the Commission formally declared the results for all constituencies except Falta.
The lifting of the MCC now allows governments in the affected states to resume regular administrative decision-making and policy announcements that had remained restricted during the election period.
