37 cases against candidates for violation of code of conduct

Jalandhar, Jan 30 (UNI) As many as 37 cases have so far been lodged against candidates of various political parties, including ruling Congress, in Jalandhar district for defacement of public properties and violation of other clauses of the model code of conduct.

District Electoral Officer A Venu Prasad told reporters here that a fine amounting to over Rs 41,000 had also been imposed on the contestants concerned.

Of the above amount, fine of around Rs 25,000 had been imposed on candidates of the ruling Congress where as penalty of around Rs 12,000 had been imposed on candidates of the BJP, Mr Prasad said.

A total of 101 candidates are in the fray for the 10 assembly seats of the district.

Meanwhile, the district police has also taken several preventive steps to ensure free and fair polls next month.

In the process, a total of 32 cases for electoral offences has been filed in the district, Senior Superintendent of Police Naunihal Singh said.

Mr Singh said preventive action under section 107 and/or 151 of Criminal Procedure Code(CrPC) had been taken against 231 miscreants, 519 arms had been deposited and 40 proclaimed offenders had been arrested in the district.

UNI