Congress registers 1st code of conduct violation complaint

Mumbai: The Congress has registered this season’s first complaint of violation of the model code of conduct with the Election Commission of India’s state branch in Maharashtra. The party has given a written complaint to the chief electoral officer against government advertisements still displayed outside state transport buses, bus stops and petrol pumps.

The Congress general secretary and spokesperson Sachin Sawant said that the Election Commission of India’s model code of conduct had come into force from March 10 for the general election of Lok Sabha. Despite this, ST buses, bus stops and petrol pumps among other public places were displaying government advertisements. These advertisements were yet to be removed.

Mr Sawant said that though the ECI had directed all the states, including Maharashtra, to remove government advertisements, the order had not been followed.

He also said that the commission should ask the government about it and register a case of violation of the model code of conduct. The Congress leader also wrote a letter to the Maharashtra chief electoral officer (CEO) Ashwani Kumar in this regard.

Meanwhile, the suburban district election officer (DEO) has removed 10,691 advertisement hoardings in suburban Mumbai in the last three days.

Dilip Shinde, additional chief electoral officer, said, “We have received the complain through mail. All the districts collectors have been asked to take appropriate action.”

An official of the suburban DEO said that 8,465 hoardings, posters, banners and flags of advertisements had been removed from public places.