New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) T S Krishna Murthy today (April 2, 2004) said that he was "helpless" when political parties indulged in low-level and personalised attacks during election campaign.

"We do not have the powers to suspend a candidate or to ensure that the person is disqualified or taken away from the election process as the model code of conduct is not a legislative piece and if we have to implement the provisions we will have to be very, very careful," he told NDTV.

The approach of the EC has been to use persuasion and threats rather than taking action in a court of law, the TV channel said in a press release quoting the CEC as saying.

He, however, asserted that if it was repeatedly violated "we have to consider other methods. We are at present satisfied but we are looking for maturity from the candidates and the political parties". The CEC said if Democracy has to be developed then there should be a dignified debate. "We should avoid issues relating to personalities. Instead, we should discuss policies and principles," he said.