"The screening of a Kargil documentary at this juncture is not in consonance with the code of conduct. It may be done from the evening of October 3 when voting is over," the Commission said.

With Kargil emerging as a major issue in the poll campaign, the Commission in a press release said it is "necessary that the defence forces step out of the limelight and allow the political system of India to argue it out before their masters -- the people".

Both President K R Narayanan and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee have paid tributes to the jawans and given recognition to their services in the shape of gallantry awards.

"The internationally acclaimed neutrality of the Indian armed forces should not in any direct or indirect manner be brought into comment and criticism.The Defence Ministry, too, should keep this in mind since the Minister (George Fernandes) is a major political figure and likely parliamentary candidate in this elections," the EC said.

Kargil as a poll issue was being debated and commented upon by political parties on television and in the print media and letters to the President which had been sent to the Commission.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet had written to Narayanan on Tuesday saying that since the Kargil conflict had become an election issue, it was of "utmost necessity" that the armed forces did not appear to take any partisan position.