Bangalore: Governor T.N. Chaturvedi has sounded a note of caution to the State Government, and in particular Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, to prevent any violation of the election code of conduct on the part of the Government.

Sources in the State Government told The Hindu on Saturday that the Governor had written two letters to the State Government on Friday highlighting the need for the Government to stick to the election code of conduct and to also ensure the presence of Ministers in the State Secretariat (at least by rotation) to attend to the grievances of the people, apart from the official work.

"If all the Ministers are away for a prolonged period because of their political responsibilities, then naturally the public work as well as a good deal of Government work itself would suffer bringing ridicule to the system as such," he has said.

The Governor, it was mentioned, has chosen to write the letters in an apparent attempt to caution the Government from inviting the wrath of the election authorities apart from other sections of society, including political parties.

Most of the Ministers, including the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister, have been camping in Mysore for the December 4 byelection to the Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency.

In one of his letters, the Governor said: "I am writing this letter just to stress the need for creating a climate of confidence in the people that the bylection to the Chamundeshwari constituency is being conducted in a free and fair manner. I have learnt that M.Y. Quraishi, as member of the Election Commission, is also coming to Mysore on Sunday to have a first hand idea. It is in any case necessary for officers to be very cautious and act objectively, independently and with fairness."

He said the Chief Secretary to the State Government, the Director-General and Inspector-General of Police should ensure that the Government officials at all levels conducted themselves with absolute fairness and impartiality irrespective of the "pulls and pressures" especially during elections.

Clarifications

Mr. Chaturvedi cautioned the Chief Minister about the lack of well documented clarifications from the Government to the criticism levelled against it irrespective of the fact that the Government had a big set up of public relations and officials therein.

"I wonder at times, what for they (Information Separtment) are really meant. Naturally, the public will form its own impressions and conclusions," he said.

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