By IANS,
Bhopal : Madhya Pradesh Election Commission Monday warned of strict action against officials if they do not follow the model code of conduct after reports that chairpersons and other nominated members of various corporations were using official vehicles to campaign.
“It has been brought to the notice of the commission that the official vehicles provided to the different autonomous body chairpersons, vice-chairpersons and commissioners are being misused,” Chief Electoral officer J.S. Mathur said.
“Such persons can use official vehicles only between their residence and office and for attending the official meetings. If the vehicles are used for any other purpose they would be seized,” Mathur told IANS.
Mathur also issued instructions to all the district collectors to keep strict vigil on use of official vehicles and seize them if they are being misused.
Mathur said the commission’s directive on hoardings carrying election publicity materials of various political parties in certain districts have not been followed.
“Information pertaining to removal of hoardings – displaying slogans etc – has to be dispatched to the Election Commission of India (ECI). If my office does not receive the report immediately it won’t be part of the information to be sent to the ECI. In such an eventuality, responsibility would be fixed on district returning officers,” Mathur said.
The Chief Electoral Officer also issued orders to post a nodal officer exclusively to deal with complaints and said that they would be reviewed on a daily basis.
Meanwhile, the state government Sunday transferred as many as 21 deputy collectors after the election commission issued instructions to transfer officials who had been in their respective districts for more than three years.
Four police inspectors and 31 sub-inspectors were also shifted in compliance with the poll body’s orders.
Polls to elect the 230-member state assembly would be held Nov 25.