Keypoints:
- Official of West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said that PM”s hoardings violates the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
- The ECI has directed all the petrol pump dealers and agencies to remove hoardings advertising schemes within 72 hours.
On Wednesday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) directed all the dealers of petrol pumps and other agencies to remove the hoardings which advertise central government schemes carrying photographs of PM Modi from the facility’s premises within 72 hours.
The official of West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has said that the use of PM’s photographs violates the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
The Model Code of Conduct came into force after the ECI announced poll dates for the state on February 26.
The directive came hours after a delegation of senior TMC leaders, including Firhad Hakim, met the officials and alleged that the use of Modi’s photo on advertisements of various Central schemes and COVID-19 vaccination certificates, which are being distributed by the Union health ministry, and petrol pumps is violating the model code of conduct.
According to the official, the CEO has received over 1,000 similar complaints out of which 450 were said to be genuine.
“We have issued instructions to the concerned officers everywhere in the state to take appropriate measures as per the norms of the ECI [Election Commission of India] as quickly as possible,” the official at the CEO told PTI. “We have received such complaints on cVIGIL. Everybody has to abide by the MCC and people have been directed as to what action is to be taken when MCC is violated,” he added.
On polling days, the EC has decided to use vehicles having GPS-based application to monitor the movement of sector officers and also to communicate with them.
“If needed the sector officer can be contacted in emergencies. Their movement can be monitored from the district election office, as well as by the observer and from the CEO here,” he said.
The assembly election in West Bengal is scheduled to be held in eight phases, beginning with polling for 30 seats on March 27, 2021. Counting is slated on May 2, 2021.
