Karnataka - Bellary   

Adhere to election rules, political parties told

BELLARY: Deputy Commissioner Arvind Srivastav has made it clear that action will be initiated against those violating the model code of conduct and appealed to all political parties to adhere to the rules.

Addressing representatives of various political parties here on Friday, Mr. Srivastav said that obtaining a pass was mandatory if one wished to sport a party flag on a vehicle, including two-wheelers, failing which the authorities would take punitive action. With regard to the request of V.K. Basappa, president of the district unit of the Samajwadi Party to open a single-window system for obtaining licences/permission for undertaking campaigns, Mr. Srivastav said political parties, according to the law, had to adhere to the rules while approaching the particular gram panchayat/urban local self-government for the purpose.

However, he promised that instructions would be passed on to the gram panchayats to expedite the process of issuing licences and permission. He also said the Election Commission had instructed the gram panchayats not to give permission for erecting buntings and other publicity material made of plastic.

For issuing photo identity cards, several teams had been formed and the route map had also been finalised, he said. He requested party representatives to motivate the people in their areas to go to polling booths to get their identity cards to avoid any inconvenience on the day of polling. “The present arrangements made are only for people left out so far, and we want to implement the programme as a movement,” he added.

Superintendent of Police Amrit Paul explained some of the salient features of the model code of conduct and the need to adhere to it. He said candidates and their supporters were not supposed to make any personal remarks against their opponents, stage dharna, burn effigies, approach religious places seeking votes or indulge in rousing communal sentiments.

The use of public address systems and bursting of crackers after 10 p.m. were banned and cases would be booked against violators. He said that according to the instructions of the Election Commission, political parties should inform the police about public meetings being organised by them. All such meetings would be videotaped, he added.

He also said that only four persons would be permitted to accompany the candidate at the time of filing the nomination papers. The others would be stopped 300 metres away.

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Adhere to election rules, political parties told

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