Election Commission to call for an all-party meet to frame guidelines for election manifestos

New Delhi: The Election Commission will call for an all-party meeting to frame guidelines for election manifestos after the Supreme Court last week directed the poll panel to regulate content of the promises made by political parties.

"Freebies promised by political parties in their election manifestos shake the roots of free and fair polls," the Supreme Court had said on Friday.

In a statement, the Election Commission today said a "meeting of all recognized national and state political parties will be held for consultations on implementation of the Supreme Court judgment." Copies of the judgment have been sent to all political parties, the statement added.

However, a date for the meeting has not been set yet.

A Supreme Court bench had said though the election manifesto is published before the code of conduct comes into force, the Election Commission can make an exception by bringing it within the code of conduct.

The Supreme Court said that freebies disturb the level playing field among parties contesting the polls and vitiates the election process.

The judgement may have wide ramifications and can put a curb on political parties promising electrical appliances and  gadgets if voted to power.