Gujarat poll: EC to implement a strict Model Code of Conduct

Oct 25: Prior to the first phase of assembly election in Gujarat, the Election Commission is gripping its hand on all aspects of conducting a free and fare election with the Model Code of Conduct. However, the ruling BJP party under the command of state Chief Minister Narendra Modi has accused EC of being bias in its approach.

Lately the Commission had asked state administration to remove photographs of the state chief minister Modi from the state official website. BJP has accused that the Commission has done no such thing in case of Himachal Pradesh where Congress is ruling and the assembly poll is scheduled to be start from November 14.

On Tuesday the Commission issued notice to Minister of State Prabhatsingh Chauhan on the charges of violating model code of conduct. Reportedly the minister has been using his official car for election campaign; he was given a period of week to response to the notice. The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) doesn’t permit any official in using public property in any sense for personal gain or campaigning election.

The Commission on Wednesday did also send notice to some of Congress as well as BJP leaders for using offensive languages in their campaigns. The EC has set up a panel of special observers to administer the poll preparation. According to code of conduct the EC can cancel the candidature if s/he in any means goes against the MCC.

Earlier the Election Commission had directed the state administration to transfer as many seven higher police officers from their present posts as they are considered nearer to the chief minister Narendra Modi.

The first phase of the poll is scheduled to be held on December 11 and the second one on December 16. Vote counting will be started from Dec 23.