A day after former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal raised objection to the new ration cards being given to the people of the State having pictures of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, the Election Commission on Monday, ordered to stop the distribution of ration cards.
Election Commission of India (ECI) official Neeraj Sharma said that commission has asked the civil supply department to follow the election code. "Department has been asked to put the distribution of ration cards on hold carrying photographs of Congress leaders," said Sharma.
He added that ECI had received a complaint regarding ration bags and cards having photographs of Congress leaders, we have asked civil supply department to act immediately following poll code.
On Sunday, former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal had complained to the election commission regarding use and distribution of ration cards, which have photograph of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and one State Cabinet Minister.
Earlier ahead of the 2012 Assembly polls, the ECI had stopped the then BJP Government from distributing free ration bags carrying pictures of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on a similar complaint from Congress party.