SEC locks horns with Raj Bhawan

Lucknow, Oct 31 (UNI) After Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, it is the turn of State Election Commissioner (SEC) Aparmita Prasad Singh to lock horns with the Raj Bhawan in the midst of state civic poll.

''No one has a role to suggest ways to conduct polls in the state,'' Mr Singh said today thereby making light of Governor T V Rajeswar's recent endeavour to stop the CM distribute Kanya Dhan Scheme cheques terming it as violation of election code of conduct.

Talking to mediapersons here, the SEC said the letters sent by the Governor on complaints of the political parties was against the norms. ''He is free to write letters, although it is not obligatory on the SEC's part to take cognizance,'' he remarked.

The Raj Bhawan had already sent several letters to the SEC on the objections raised by opposition parties on the role of the state government and the ruling Samajwadi Party violating the model code of conduct in the ongoing urban local bodies poll.

''The Governor has written so many letters, but we have taken note of only a couple of them,'' he added.

On Mr Rajeswar's objection, the SEC had to direct the CM to postpone his unemployement allowance and Kanya Vidya Dhan cheque distribution programmes. The Commission also stayed the tranfer of several district police chiefs just before the civic poll.

Mr Singh questioned the Raj Bhawan about its role in the coming assembly poll. ''EC never entertains such things,'' he claimed.

The CM and Raj Bhawan are at loggerheads on several issues for a long time in UP, resulting in delay in approval of several bills passed by the legislature.

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