Punjab State Election Commission on Wednesday issued notification for the election of Gram Panchayats in the State. With this, the model code of conduct has also come into force with immediate effect and would remain in force till July 4.
The two main parties—Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress would not be fighting the polls on party symbols.The process of filling of nomination papers was also started from Wednesday and would continue till June 22.It is for the first time that the election of Gram Panchayats is being conducted through delimitation of wards. Election of sarpanch would be held in a total of 13080 gram panchayats, and for panch in 81412 wards of villages. The Sarpanch would be elected through direct election.
Issuing strict directions for the compliance of model code of conduct, the SEC clarified that the code comes into effect immediately within the jurisdiction of the Gram Panchayats and be operative till the completion of election. SEC said that during the election process, Ministers shall not combine their official visit with electioneering work and shall not make use of official machinery and personnel or other government resources including government vehicle for furtherance of interests of any candidate.
Official telephones including mobiles, fax etc shall not be used for electioneering purposes. The Ministers and other authorities shall not sanction grants or payment out of their discretionary funds from the time elections are announced by the Commission. Further, they shall not announce any financial grant in any form or promises thereof or make any promise of constructions of road, provision of drinking water facility etc or make any ad-hoc appointment in government public undertaking etc which may have the effect of influencing the voters in favour of the party in power.
The Commission also prohibits the Ministers from sanctioning any new scheme or make any announcement of any new scheme. laying of foundation stone etc of a project or a scheme of any kind shall not be done during the period of election. Spokesman further said that use of rest houses, circuit houses and other government accommodation should be permitted to all the candidates and the political parties on the same terms and conditions on which it is permissible for the party in power.
However, no candidate or party shall be allowed to use such accommodations (including premises apartments thereto) as a campaign office or for holding any public meeting for the purpose of election propaganda. Further, spokesman said that a public servant shall not participate or accompany a Minister in any programme, organized at an individual’s house for which the Minister has accepted the invitation during his election tour.
The loud speakers shall be used only between 7 am to 10 pm. No party or candidate shall hold public meeting or processions without obtaining necessary permission from the competent local authority(s). Places of worship such as temples, mosques, churches etc shall not be used as forum for election propaganda.