SC: Candidate using religion, caste, race, community to seek votes can be barred

The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that seeking votes in the name of religion , caste, race, community or language by a candidate, his agent or anyone with his consent would be a corrupt electoral practice rendering the person open to disqualification.

The order, which some political and official sources felt would be of limited utility in a country teeming with parties appealing to regional, caste-based and community identities, widened the scope of Section 123(3) of the Representation of the People Act in order to "maintain the purity of the electoral process".

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