The Hindu : Collector asks parties to follow poll code

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 06, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Nizamabad

Collector asks parties to follow poll code

By Our Staff Reporter

NIZAMABAD, MARCH 5. The district Collector, D.V. Raidu, on Friday asked leaders of all political parties to strictly follow the model code of conduct for the coming Assembly and parliamentary elections, without giving any scope for violations.

The Collector convened a meeting with leaders of the various political parties to explain the guidelines for the code of conduct which came into effect from February 29 after the Election Commission announced the poll schedule. The Joint Collector, G. Venkatram Reddy, the Velugu Project Director, K.V. Satynarayana, the Nizamabad RDO, Krishna Mohan Reddy, and others were present.

The Telangana Rastra Samiti district president, A.S. Poshetty, the Bahujan Samaj Party chief, Neeradi Laxman, the former TDP district president, Akula Shankar, the BJP district vice-president, Gajam Yellappa, the CPI district secretary, Venkat Reddy, and the CPI(M) district secretary, Gangadharappa, and others attended the meeting.

Mr. Raidu made it clear to political parties that leaders should explain to their cadre in detail the provisions of the model code of conduct. He said that the administration had already provided copies of the model code of conduct to political parties and the contesting candidates. He said the directions and guidelines received from the EC and the State Government would be forwarded to the respective political parties.

The Collector said coordination between the administration and the political parties would ensure free and fair poll. He advised officials not to give scope for any criticism. The TRS district president wanted the officials to be unbiased. He alleged that despite the model code of conduct in place, TDP leaders were distributing LPG cylinders under the Deepam scheme. The Collector promised to look into the complaint.

Leaders of other political parties said that administration to initiate stringent action against those who tried to influence the voters with cash or kind. The Collector and the Joint Collector made it very clear that all posters, handbills and banners, should carry the name of the printer and the banner painter.

The Joint Collector asked political parties to remove the party flags and banners and wipe out wall-writings. He said if the parties failed to do so, the administration would do it and send the bills for payment to the respective political parties. Another meeting with political parties would be conducted before the nomination process begins.

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