India, April 20 -- With the Election Commission (EC) of India announcing dates for the general election, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) - the document to ensure fair conduct among political parties in the run-up to the 17th Lok Sabha elections - came into force. While I expect the usual circus of parties - complaining against one another and numerous reprimands by the EC - I am relieved that animals will be spared in this drama.

Chapter 22 of the MCC notes: "The Election Commission has advised the political parties and candidates to refrain from using any animal for election campaign in any manner. Even a party, having a reserved symbol depicting an animal, should not make live demonstration of that animal in any election campaign of th...