Monday, December 6, 2010

470 remain in fray...

470 remain in fray...

Critics however point out that with only eight vigilance teams on duty in one shift, one vigilance team member will have to keep an eye on 10 candidates organizing impromptu public meets and rallies, which is really impossible.
The code of conduct guidelines that candidates and their respective parties must follow are:
(1) No party or candidate shall include any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities.
(2) Criticism of other political parties, when made, shall be confined to their policies and programmes, past record and work. Parties and candidates shall refrain from criticism of all aspects of private life, not connected with the public activities of leaders or workers of other parties. Criticism of other parties or their workers based on unverified allegations or distortion should be avoided.
(3) For securing votes, caste or communal feelings should not be stoked. Mosques, churches, temples and other places of worship shall not be used as platforms for election propaganda.
(4) All parties and candidates shall avoid scrupulously all activities which are "corrupt practices" and offences under the election law, such as bribing of voters, intimidation of voters, impersonation of voters, canvassing within 100 metres of polling stations, holding public meetings during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for the close of the poll, and the transport and conveyance of voters to and from polling station.
(5) The right of every in


undisturbed home life shall be respected, however much the political parties or candidates may resent his political opinions or activities. Organizing demonstrations or picketing before the houses of individuals by way of protesting against their opinions or activities shall not be resorted to under any circumstances.
(6) No political party or candidate shall permit its or his followers to make use of any individual's land, building, compound wall etc., without his permission for erecting flag-staffs, suspending banners, pasting notices, writing slogans, etc.
(7) Political parties and candidates shall ensure that their supporters do not create obstructions in or break up meetings and processions organized by other parties. Workers or sympathizers of one political party shall not create disturbances at public meetings organized by another political party by putting questions orally or in writing or by distributing leaflets of their own party. Processions shall not be taken out by one party along places at which meetings are held by another party. Posters issued by one party shall not be removed by workers of another party.
(8) The identity slip supplied by parties to voters on the polling day shall be on plain (white) paper and shall not contain any symbol, name of the candidate or the name of the party
(9) Refrain from serving or distributing liquor on polling day and during 48 hours preceding it.
The corporation has brought out a list of officers with their respective numbers for any resident to call up and register complaint against any candidate found to be violating the election code of conduct.
—Jaspal Singh Nao

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