CEC refuses intervening with governance in UP

Varanasi, Sep 6 (UNI) Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh planning to move the Election Commission against recent attendance of top bureaucrats at a ruling Samajwadi Party function were in a for a rude shock here today, as Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalswamy categorically denied interfering in UP affairs, until the model code of conduct came into force.

''If the political parties sought time for any meeting or submitting any complaint I will be available, but the EC cannot interfere, until the model code of conduct for assembly polls came into force in UP,'' Mr Gopalswamy told newspersons here today.

The opposition Congress had recently announced moving the EC against the alleged violation of service rules by top bureaucrats including chief secretary N C Bajpai, who attended a recent function in Lucknow, organised to mark the completion of three years of the Samajwadi Party - led government.

The CEC expressed hope the process of delimitation of parliamentary and assembly constituencies would be completed in two months. All the objections and suggestions being collected by the Delimitation Commission and EC before finalising the delimitation list would be entertained with open mind, he added.

Mr Gopalswamy further said all efforts were being made to ensure that at least one parliamentary constituency fell in the limit of one district.

All those who were coming before the EC with any objection or suggestion were considered as citizens only and not any politician or social activist.

UNI ARS VS VA RAI2001