It may leave the esteem of the SAD-BJP combine bruised, but the ambulances in Punjab would not carry the pictures of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. Even the bicycles, will not carry Badal’s pictures, far as the Election Commission termed these as the violation of the model code of conduct.
Besides, the Commission has also made it clear that ration cards, blue cards etc under various schemes, any Government vehicles should not have any picture of political leaders.
“No photograph of any political leader should be exhibited on Government vehicles, ambulances, cycles, Government stationary and any other items,” said the Punjab Chief Electoral Officer VK Singh.
In case the pictures are already there, in case of ambulances, Singh said that the same “have to be covered immediately”.
Only recently, the news of distribution ration under Atta-Dal scheme in bags carrying Badal and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon’s pictures has been reported from Mohali.
Also, Congress sitting MP and candidate from Sangrur Vijay Inder Singla has brought to the notice of the Commission the State Government’s attempt to distribute bicycles to the girl students under ‘Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme’ in violation of the code.
More to the point, the Commission has asked the powers-that-be that no new power or tubewell connection be issued, besides “the installation of new transformers and any other announcement in this regard is also prohibited”.
The Commission has also made it clear that no financial assistance be released from the MlA or MP local area development schemes, besides “no new blue card, ration card, pension by Social Security Department or any other activity of this kind to be undertaken”.
Virtually putting to halt various projects, the Commission has stated that no new development work to be undertaken and no new tenders to be floated regarding any kind of activity. “No foundation or inaugural stone to be laid,” added the Commission.
Witnessing brazen violation of model code of conduct for 2014 lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission of India shot off a communiqué to the authorities concerned asking them to honor the code, issuing detailed guidelines.
EC to keep tab on candidates’ expenditure, cash movement
Issuing series of instructions to expenditure observers deployed to check excess expenditure, the Election Commission has asked them to open units in each district together with intelligence regarding use and movement of black money in the state and take prompt action as per Income Tax law.
IT department has also operationalised a 24x7 helpline number — 1800-1800-690 — to encourage general public to provide information relating to movement of cash and valuables during election period.
The teams would keep a close tab on all airports in the State, major railway stations, hotels, farm houses, hawala agents, financial brokers, cash couriers, pawn brokers and other suspicious agencies or persons likely to be used for movement of undisclosed cash would be kept under close surveillance by the IT department.
If cash exceeding Rs10 lakh is reported, the IT department would take necessary action under IT Act.
SAD files reply in Holla-Mohalla matter
SAD on Thursday filed its reply to Roopnagar DC-cum-Returning Officer over the allegations of code violation during Holla-Mohalla fair. In its reply, party spokesperson and MlA Daljit Singh Cheema, on the behalf of the party, stated that they will not be using Gurdwara complex but parking and commercial area for the conference on Holla Mohalla days over which Congress leader and MP Ravneet Singh Bittu had raised objections. Assuring to be abide by the model code of conduct, Cheem said, “The complaint filed by Bittu is “false, misleading and devoid of merit”.
Phoolka seeks SAD’s ‘derecognition’
Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) candidate from ludhiana parliamentary constituency HS Phoolka on Thursday moved the Election Commission seeking derecognition of the SAD for violating code of conduct by putting up hoardings, banners across ludhiana. Phoolka stated that SAD candidate Manpreet Ayali has not only violated code by putting up more than 5 lakhs huge hoardings across the constituency but also breached the defacement of property act.