SEC takes exception to RD

Bhubaneswar, Jan 19 (UNI) The Orissa State Election Commission(SEC) has taken strong exception to the advertisements released by the Union Rural Development and Human Resource Development Ministries saying that these violated the code of conduct for Panchayat polls in the state.

The SEC has issued notices to the secretaries of the Rural Development and Human Resource Development asking them to reply within seven days on the release of advertisements in violation of code of conduct.

In a letter to the Union Cabinet Secretary, the SEC urged the formed to instruct the Secretaries of various Ministries not to release advertisements in the news papers in Orissa, which would influence the voters and hamper a free and fair Panchayat elections in the state.

The SEC made it clear that neither the state nor the Centre would release the advertisements which could influence the mind of the voters directly.

It also pointed at the release of the photograph of Union Minister of state for Rural Development stating the Minister being from Orissa, the advertisement carrying his photograph would influence the voters.

The Code of conduct has been imposed from December 26 and would be effective till February 21,the last date of Panchayat elections in the state.

Meanwhile, the SEC has announced that fresh nomination papers would be invited from January 24 to January 29 in the places for the Zila Parishad members, Panchayat Samitee members and Ward members where no nominations were filed within the stipulated time or all the nominations were rejected during scrutiny.

Official sources said altogether 26603 nominations were found valid after scrutiny for 6201 samitee members, 33,634 nominations for 6234 posts of sarpanche and 1,78,333 nominations for 87,452 ward member post.

UNI