New Delhi, March 2 -- Taking note of the concerning trends and cases of declining levels of political campaign discourse in recent elections, the Election Commission (EC) has urged political parties and their leaders to refrain from seeking votes based on caste, religion, or language. Additionally, they are warned not to insult the devotee-deity relationship or suggest any divine censure.

The poll watchdog has emphasised the need for maintaining decorum in public campaigning, placing additional responsibility on star campaigners and candidates, particularly those who have been issued notices in the past. This advisory comes just days before the model code is expected to come into effect with the announcement of the Lok Sabha and four Sta...