Corrupt practices.

22. Corrupt practices. - The following shall be deemed to be corrupt practices for the purposes of this Act, namely, - (i) bribery as defined in clause (1) of section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (Central Act 48 of 1951) for the time being in force; 1[(ia) coercion or fraud enti cing of any voter or member of the Gram Panchayat or Taluk Panchayat or Zilla Panchayat as the case may be, to trade the post of member or Adhyaksha or upadhyaksha of the Gram Panchayat or Taluk Panchayat or Zilla Panchayat as the case may be, during elec tion for a consideration ]1 1. Inser ted by Act 44 of 2015 w.e.f. 25.02.2016 (ii) undue influence as defined in clause (2) of the said section for the time being in force; (iii) the appeal by a candidate or his agent or by any other person with the consent of a candidate or his agent to vote or refrain from voting for any person on the ground of his religion, race, caste, community or language or the use of, or appeal to religious symbols or the use of or appeal to national symbols, such as the national fla g or the national emblem, for the furtherance of the prospects of the election of that candidate or for prejudicially affecting the election of any candidate; (iv) the promotion of or attempt to promote, feelings of enmity or hatredness between different classes of the citizens of India on grounds of religion, race, caste, community or language by a candidate or his agent or any other person with the consent of a candidate or his election agent for the furtherance of the election of that candidate or for prejudicially affecting the election of any candidate; (v) the publication by a candidate or his agent or by any other person, with the consent of candidate or his agent of any statement of fact which is false and which he either believes to be false or does not believe to be true in relation to the personal character or conduct of any candidate or in relation to the candidature or withdrawal of any candidature, being a statement reasonably calculated to prejudice the prospects of that candidate’s electio n; (vi) the hiring or procuring, whether on payment or otherwise, any vehicle, or vessel by a candidate or his agent or by any other person with the consent of a candidate or his agent, or the use of such vehicle or vessel for the free conveyance of any v oter (other than the candidate himself, the members of his family or his agent ) to or from any polling station provided in accordance with the rules made under this Act: Provided that the use of any public transport vehicle or vessel or railway carriage by any voter at his own cost for the purpose of going to or coming from any such polling station or place fixed for the poll shall not be deemed to be a corrupt practice under this clause. Explanation. - In this clause the expression “vehicle” means any vehicle used or capable of being used for the purpose of road transport, whether propelled by mechanical power or otherwise whether used for the drawing of other vehicles or otherwise. (vii) the holding of any meeting at which intoxicating liquors are ser ved; (viii) the issuing of any circular, placard or poster having reference to the election which does not bear the name and address of the printer and publisher thereof; 56 (ix) any other practice which the Government may by rules specify to be a corrupt practice.