Video conference in Bengal to alert administration

Kolkata, Mar 3 (UNI) West Bengal Chief Secretary Amit Kiran Deb today held a video conference with all the District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police and alerted them about the Model Code of Conduct in the election-bound state.

Chief Electoral Officer Debasish Sen, Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Ray, Director General of Police Subhash Awasthi and Inspector General of Police(Law and Order) Raj Kanojia also participated in the conference.

The Chief Secretary asked the DMs and SPs of all the 18 districts to maintain the provisions of the Model Code in letter and spirit.

Later the CEO told reporters that under the Model Code of Conduct restrictions would be in force on the use of official cars by Ministers. In case they travelled to districts or used bullet proof cars, the expenses would have to be borne by the political parties they belonged to.

The Minister would also be barred from laying foundation or inaugurate any project, while there would be a ban on using funds from the MPLAD, Mr Sen said.

The Model Code would also bar, among other things, new appointments or transfer in Government offices and sanction of funds.

While the EC prohibited wall graffiti under the Model Code, no clarification had reached the state office so far on the fate of the existing wall writings, put up by the political parties, Mr Sen said. UNI KDG KK sy kp1900