The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Follow model code of conduct strictly, candidates told

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Follow model code of conduct strictly, candidates told

Staff Reporter

Confine criticism of opponent to policy record: Election Officer

BRIEFING FOR CANDIDATES: District Election Officer, M.P. Vijayakumar (right), addresses a meeting of officials and contestants in Chennai on Tuesday. — Photo: M. Vedhan

CHENNAI: Election officials in Chennai district appealed all parties to cooperate for the conduct of free and fair elections and adhere to the model code of conduct.

Speaking at a meeting attended by candidates of all parties at the Chennai Corporation community hall in Periamet on Tuesday, District Elections Officer and Corporation Commissioner M. P. Vijayakumar listed rules under the Election Commission's (EC) model code of conduct and appealed candidates to follow them in letter and spirit.

Under the model code of conduct, all candidates must confine criticism of their opponents to their policies and past governance record and eschew criticism of their private lives. Referring to `booth slips' that political parties distribute among voters on the eve of polling day, he said the EC prohibited display of party symbols in them. Political parties have been asked to set up booths 200 metres away from polling stations. On the election day, only voters and Election Commission-certified journalists would be allowed within 100 metres and onwards of the polling station, apart from candidates and their agents.

Election campaigning should conclude by 5 p.m. on May 6.

He said election officials would monitor all private marriage and community halls for any unusual activity to prevent bogus voting.

All candidates have been asked to submit details of their election expenses to poll in-charge officials twice a week.

The candidates can spend up to Rs. 10 lakh. More than 200 persons, including AIADMK candidates D. Jayakumar, Adhi Rajaram, DMK candidate Raghuman Khan, MDMK candidate Vijaya Thayanban and several Independent candidates, attended.

At a meeting election observers and Mr. Vijayakumar had with police officials on Tuesday morning, it was resolved to not allow use of cell phones within 100 metres of polling booths and counting centres.

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