With the announcement of poll schedule for five states, the Election Commission has directed the authorities to enforce the model code of conduct strictly and also asked parties in power to ensure that there is no cause for complaint.

In a set of ‘dos and dont’s’, it has said that no advertisements should be issued in electronic and print media highlighting the achievements of the government at the cost of the public exchequer.

“If any advertisement has already been released, it must be ensured that the telecast/broadcast of such advertisement is stopped forthwith and that no such advertisement is published in the print media and it should be immediately withdrawn,” the EC said on Wednesday.

The Commission had announced the poll schedule on Tuesday. It wanted the Union Cabinet Secretary as also Chief Secretaries and CEOs of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry to ensure these instructions were followed in letter and spirit.

It asked them to see that the party in power whether at the Centre or in the states concerned should give no cause for any complaint that official machinery has been used for the purposes of election campaign.

Detailing the guidelines, the EC said ministers should not combine official visit with electioneering work and should also not make use official machinery or personnel during the electioneering work.

Government transport including official aircraft, vehicles, machinery and personnel should not be used for furtherance of the interest of the party in power, it said.

“Public places such as maidans for holding election meetings and use of helipads for flights in connection with elections shall not be monopolised by itself”, it said.

Other parties and candidates should be allowed the use of such places and facilities on the same terms and conditions on which they were used by the party in power, the EC made it clear.

Similarly, rest houses, dak bungalows or other government accommodation should not be monopolised by the party in power and its candidates, it said.

Through another direction, the EC asked the Centre and the states concerned not to release funds under the MPLAD fund in any part of the country where election is in progress. This applied to MPLAD funds of Rajya Sabha members too, it said.

Besides, no fresh release of funds under the MLAs/ MLCs Local Area Development Fund should be made in these areas till the elections were over, the EC said.

While West Bengal will have six-phased assembly polls beginning April 18, Assam elections will be held in two phases on April 4 and 11.

Voters in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry would exercise their franchise on 13th April.

Counting of votes in all the five states will take place on 13th May.

In the backdrop of West Bengal being affected by Maoists activities and also frequent clashes between rival political groups, the polling in the state will be held in a staggered manner on April 18, 23, 27, May 3, 7 and 10. (DD-2.3)

EC announces dates for assembly polls in four states, 1 UT

A six-phased Assembly elections in West Bengal, a two stage poll in Assam and a single day poll in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry were announced on Tuesday by the Election Commission, setting in motion the largest such exercise after 2009 Lok Sabha polls.

With parts of the state affected by Maoists activities, West Bengal will have elections in six phases on April 18, 23, 27, May 3, 7 and 10, in perhaps the longest ever in the state, also known for political violence.

Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will go to polls on April 13, Assam’s two-phased poll is scheduled on April four and 11.

Counting of votes in all the five states will take place on May 13.

The model code of conduct has come into force immediately, Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi said announcing the schedule.

While West Bengal has 294 assembly constituencies, Tamil Nadu has 234, Kerala 140, Puducherry 30 and Assam 126.

The elections are the first battle of the ballot in the new year and would involve over 14.39 crore electorate in the five states with West Bengal having the largest number of over 5.60 crore electors followed by Tamil Nadu 4.59 crore. While Kerala has 2.29 crore electors, Assam 1.81 crore and Puducherry is merely over eight lakh.

Polling will be held through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMS).

Asked as to why the EC has gone in for a six-phased polls in West Bengal, the CEC said that a decision was taken keeping in view the “ground realities”.

The EC had already sent two teams to the state to study the law and order situation.

On reports that 100 companies of Central Paramilitary forces have been made available for the conduct of elections, he merely said that the EC never discloses the forces it has and the government has assured adequate forces for ensuring free and fair polls.

A highlight this time is that Overseas Indians could exercise their franchise in person and instructions have been issued to facilitate their voting.

There have been elections only to few states since last Lok Sabha polls including those in Maharashtra, Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Haryana in 2009 and Bihar in 2010.