S. P. Pandey, Chandigarh, 2nd March, 2009 :With the declaration of Elections by the Election Commission of India today Model Code of Conduct has come into force. The election for Parliamentary Constituency, Chandigarh is scheduled to be held on May 13, 2009. The District Election Officer-cum-Returning Officer, Mr. R.K. Rao, convened a meeting with all the Assistant Returning Officers to take stock of the election preparations.
Adviser to the UT Administrator and CEO, Mr. Pradip Mehra will hold a meeting tomorrow with the representatives of the political parties to brief them about the election process and to seek cooperation for ensuring implementation of provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and to seek cooperation from all the political parties for conducting elections in a fair and peaceful manner. The political parties will also be briefed about various steps to be taken on their part to abide by the instructions issued by the Election Commission of India, particularly regarding the Model Code of Conduct.
Election Commission of India has issued very exhaustive instructions regarding the provisions of Model Code of Conduct. Briefly speaking, the Code mandates that no party or candidate will indulge in any activity, which may cause tension between different castes and communities. There shall be no appeal by the political parties/candidates incite communal feelings for securing votes. All political parties shall avoid scrupulously all activities, which are ‘corrupt practices’ and offences under the Election Law, such as bribing of voters, intimidation of voters, writing of slogans, displaying of posters, erecting cutouts, hoardings, banners, advertisements will be allowed at public places specifically identified and earmarked by the Election Department. No defacement in any form will be permitted on government premises. Individual’s land, building, compound wall etc. will not be used for erecting flag-staff, pasting notices, writing slogans without the permission of the owner of the building. Advance permission will have to be taken by the political parties from the Returning Officer/local police authorities for taking processions. All the critical events during the election process will be video graphed.