Maduari West by-poll: EC lays down guidelines

Chennai, May 31 (UNI) The Election Commission (EC) has laid down guidelines for political parties, with the code of conduct for the June 26 bypoll to Madurai West Assembly constituency coming into force on May 25.

An official release here said the guidelines spelt out how the political parties and candidates should conduct themselves during election campaign and to ensure peace and order.

It said all Ministers, whether Central or State, would not combine in any manner their official tours with election work after the announcement of the by-election. They should return to their headquarters on completion of their official tours.

All and any visits to the district where bypoll was being held and where model code of conduct was in force, have to be completely private in nature and such private visits should begin and end at the Minister's headquarters.

In case, where a Minister, on official work, transits through the district where the bypoll was being held to any other district, he should not halt in the district and should not attend any political work.

No official of any rank should be called by any Minister to attend any meeting. If any official meets the Minister on his private visit to the by-election centre should be guilty of misconduct.

No pilot car(s) with beacon lights of any colour or car(s) affixed with sirens of any kind making his presence conspicuous shall be used by any Minister, Central or State, during his private visit to the constituency even if the state administration had granted him a security cover with armed guards accompanying him on tour.

UNI