Chizokho Vero
Kohima | January 14
With the announcement of elections to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly scheduled for February 23, the Chief Electoral Officer J. Alam today stated that elaborate arrangements are on for the conduct of peaceful election in the state.
Addressing a press conference here today, he informed that 180 companies of Central Forces tied up from the Ministry of Home Affairs will man all the sensitive and hyper-sensitive areas during the elections.
He said that with the announcement of general elections, the Model Code of Conduct comes into force from January 11 till the completion of the general election. This, he said will be applicable to all political parties and to the union and state governments.
He said the Commission issued certain directives for strict compliance by the political parties, candidates and the state government.
It states the party in power whether at the Centre or in the state concerned, shall ensure that no cause is given for any complaint that it has used its official position for the purpose of its election campaign in particular.
The Ministers shall not combine their official visit with electioneering work and shall not make use of official machinery or personnel during electioneering work. The government transports including official air-craft, vehicles, machinery and personnel shall not be used for furtherance of the interest of the party in power.
Public places such as maidans etc, for holding election meetings, and use of helipad for air-flights in connection with elections shall not be monopolized by itself. Other parties and candidates shall be allowed the use of such places and facilities on the same terms and conditions on which they used by the party in power.
The directives also stated that rest houses, dak bungalows or other government accommodation where election have been announced or taking place can be given to the political parties functionaries who are provided security by the state in Z scale or above or equivalent by various state government or the central government under provisions of their laws, on equitable basis.
This, it said, shall be subject to condition that such accommodation is not already allotted or occupied by election related officials or observers. Such political functionaries shall not carry out any activity while staying in the government rest houses/rest houses or other government accommodation etc.
The Model Code of Conduct also states that issue of advertisement at the cost of public exchequer in the newspaper and other media and the misuse of official mass media during the election period for partisan coverage for political news and publicity regarding achievements with a view to furthering the prospects of the party in power shall be scrupulously avoided; ministers and other authorities shall not sanction grants/payments out of discretionary funds from the time of elections are announced by the commission.
“No advertisements shall be issued in electronic and print media highlighting the achievements of the government at the cost of public exchequer,” the model code of conduct said adding that if any advertisement has already been released for telecast/broadcast or publication in the print media, it must be ensured that telecast/broadcast of such ads on electronic media is stopped forthwith and no such ad is published in any newspapers, magazines etc , i.e. in print media, from today itself and should be immediately withdrawn.
The Commission further directed that there shall be total ban on the transfer of all officers/official connected with the conduct of election. Further all advertisements to be printed in the local papers have to be certified by the District Level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC). The committee will also examine complaints of paid news.
Earlier, the Chief Electoral Officer also had a meeting with all the political parties and apprised them of the provisions as notified by the Commission. He also sought the attention of the political parties with regard to carrying of cash during the elections.
It may be mentioned that according to the instruction of the Commission, the provision states that any candidate found to be carrying cash exceeding Rs. 50,000 will be subjected to seizure. In the meantime, Alam was also appreciative of the Clean Election Campaign initiated by Nagaland Baptist Churches Council and termed it as a “very welcome initiative”.
