The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday, 7 May issued a formal order lifting the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) that had been in force across five states and one Union Territory following the 2026 Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry. The MCC, however, will continue to remain operational in West Bengal's 144-Falta Assembly constituency, where the Commission has ordered a fresh poll.

What the ECI Order Says

According to the Commission's order, the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct come into effect from the date of announcement of the election schedule and remain operational until the completion of the election process. With results now declared by the respective Returning Officers across all five states and Puducherry, the ECI confirmed that the MCC has ceased to be in operation with immediate effect in all concerned states and constituencies — barring the 144-Falta seat.

The order also noted that results of bye-elections held in Assembly constituencies across Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland, and Tripura have similarly been declared, bringing the MCC to a close in those constituencies as well.

Why Falta Remains Under MCC

The Falta Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal is the sole exception. On 3 May, the ECI took the extraordinary step of cancelling the entire voting process in Falta, citing reports of severe electoral offences and large-scale subversion of the democratic process during voting held on 29 April. This is a rare intervention — the cancellation of an entire constituency's poll mid-election cycle — underscoring the gravity of the alleged violations.

Fresh polling across all 285 polling stations, including auxiliary booths, is now scheduled for 21 May. The counting of votes for Falta will be held on 24 May. Until that process concludes, the MCC will remain in full force in the constituency.

Results Across States

Counting of votes for the Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and the Union Territory of Puducherry was completed on 4 May, following which the ECI announced results for all constituencies. The lifting of the MCC across these states now frees elected governments to resume policy announcements, transfers, and administrative decisions that are otherwise restricted during the code period.

What Happens Next

With the MCC lifted in most states, newly elected governments can move swiftly on cabinet formation, policy roll-outs, and administrative appointments. In West Bengal, however, the political spotlight will remain on Falta as fresh polling approaches on 21 May. The ECI is expected to deploy heightened security measures and central observer teams given the documented violations during the first round of voting. The outcome of the Falta re-poll will be closely watched as a test of the Commission's ability to ensure a free and fair election in a constituency where the process was previously compromised.