Tamil Nadu - Cuddalore   

EC bans `Thanneer pandals' by parties

By Our Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE, APRIL 25. The Election Commission has imposed a ban on the setting up of `Thanneer pandals' (water kiosks) by political parties during election. Non-governmental organisations can put up the pandals, the Collector, Gagandeep Singh Bedi, said.

Addressing an all-party meeting here on Saturday, he said the EC had also notified that graffiti on roads and public thoroughfares, urging public to vote for a party or a candidate was banned.

The EC had allowed only three campaign vehicles per candidate. If there were more vehicles, the convoy could be split in manner that only three vehicles would be seen accompanying the candidate. Mr. Bedi said parties and candidates should register the vehicles used in electioneering with the returning officer/designate official and obtain vehicle passes. The returning officer or the Superintendent of Police was empowered to impound `unregistered vehicles'. Candidates should duly fill in Form-8 along with two passport size photographs and specimen signatures of the probable polling agents. This was to verify authenticity of the polling agents.

Rule relaxed

The EC had directed candidates to maintain day-to-day poll accounts along with attested receipts in the prescribed register for scrutiny once in three days to the returning officer/Election Observer or designated officer. But since parties had pleaded their inability to do so due to the tight poll schedule, the EC had modified the rule, requiring candidates to submit accounts for inspection at least thrice during the poll process.

Helpline

Violations of model code of conduct or clarifications could be sought at the helpline: 04142-231111. Information would be entered into a register and necessary action initiated. Election Observers, Pawan Kumar Kedia, Rajendra Banawat, Vatsala Vatsa, Chanchal Kumar Tewari, Sanjay Boose Reddy and K.V.B. Reddy, participated.

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