After the State Election Commission served notices to some of the leaders as well as candidates for violating the Model Code of Conduct, political parties supporting mayoral candidates are taking extra precautions and said to have directed the leaders to keep themselves away from such activities. Congress Minister Geetashree Oraon as well as State president of TMC had been slapped notices by the State Election Commission allegedly for releasing advertisements appealing to voters in favour of their candidates Rama Khalkho and Naveen lakra being supported by the respective parties.
“In a meeting organised on Friday, party leaders have already been directed not to mention their names in the hoardings and posters and abide by the instructions issued by the State Election Commission,” said a BJP spokesperson Pradeep Sinha.According to Sinha, the leaders have also been asked not to take part in any public meeting organised by the mayoral candidate and make appeals to the voter to vote for any particular mayoral candidate.
Sinha, however, said that the BJP being a disciplined party was following instructions issued by the SEC. AJSU, on the other hand, has also asked its leaders to highlight the achievements of the candidate rather than counting the achievements made by the party.“We have clearly told them to contest the elections on their own capacity and we have least interference in it, as Mayoral Polls are not being conducted not on the basis of political parties,” said Rahul Singh, a close aide of Barsa Gadi.
According to Singh, party’s name is not being taken during the campaigning and promises are being made during the campaigning within the limits, keeping the jurisdiction of a Mayor in mind. Singh believes that the mayoral candidate must have his or her own identity.According to the party sources, to avoid any controversy during the Mayoral elections, AJSU is keeping itself away from it. “We do not interfere in their day to day matter and not even monitoring the candidate’s activities from outside to avoid any controversy,” said party vice president Praveen Prabhakar.
Congress on the other hand, believes that the political leaders will definitely try to fulfill their roles in the Mayoral polls. “Although, Mayoral Polls are not being fought on party lines, every individual, be it a political leader or a common man definitely has a personal choice which he is free to express,” said Congress spokesperson lal Kishore Nath Shahdeo.Shahdeo said that Geetarshree will reply accordingly to the notice issued against her for violating moral code of conduct.
Party insiders across the party lines however, believe that it is very difficult to contest Mayoral Polls covering 55 wards by just two vehicles with an amount of Rs 5 lakh sanctioned by the State Election Commissioner. “It has become more difficult for us as single election is being conducted by the SEC, putting all its focus on the capital city,” said a party insider.