EC puts Akali, BJP leaders on notice over illegal posters
Saturday, 22/03/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140322/punjab.htm#2
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abhinav Trikha has issued notices to the SAD and BJP for putting up unauthorised posters and hoardings with pictures of political leaders. The DC is also the District Election Officer (DEO).
The Dinanagar area chief of the BJP, BD Dhuppar, and Batala area chief of the SAD, LS Lodhinangal, have been served notices for violating the model code of conduct. Both Dinanagar and the Batala assembly seats are part of the Gurdaspur parliamentary constituency.
The BJP Batala unit, Suresh Bhatia, is also under the scanner for “installing an unauthorised hoarding on the Batala-Gurdaspur road”. “On way to Gurdaspur for a meeting yesterday, I saw a board having a picture of Modi. I intimated Bhatia about it, following which the board was removed. However, the board was put up again today at the same place. I will apprise the DEO of the issue,” Batala Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Lovejit Kalsi said.
The DEO has, meanwhile, constituted a four-member committee to look into the violations of the code of conduct and complaints regarding paid news. The committee, headed by the DEO, comprises Assistant Returning Officer (who is the ADC-Development), District Public Relations Officer (DPRO) and the Additional DPRO, Batala.
Sources say that if the ruling parties fail to reply to the notices, the DEO will be left with no option, but to forward the complaint to the state Chief Electoral Officer.
Congress’ Gurdaspur district president and Dera Baba Nanak legislator Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said the party was keeping a watch on violations of poll code by leaders of the ruling alliance.
