Guj BJP requests EC to cut CoC period to 45 days

Ahmedabad, Oct 11 (UNI) The Ruling BJP in Gujarat today requested the Election Commission to cut the Code of Conduct (CoC) period to 45 days from 60 days for the forthcoming state Assembly elections.

In a representation to Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy, who was here to hold discussions with political parties and Government officials after announcing the poll dates in New Delhi, the BJP delegation, led by state general secretary Jayantibhai Barot and other senior leaders, in a statement, requested him to follow the tradition of maximum 45 days period for the 'Code of Conduct'.

The Code of Conduct came into existence at 1800 hours yesterday with poll dates announced by the EC. Elections will be held on December 11 and 16.

BJP demanded that an extensive awareness campaign to encourage more voting should be conducted by the EC. It also drew the attention of EC to the half-page advertisement of the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry in local newspapers, which was in violation of CoC as the UPA Government at the Centre was led by the Congress party, the main opposition in Gujarat.

The Centre should also take prior consent of the EC before announcing any scheme, which may appease voters in the state, the delegation pointed out.

They asked the EC to issue a directive to the state-owned Doordarshan to be 'fair' in the election coverage, Political parties should be allowed to put up campaign hoardings and banners on private property and voting should be held between 0800 and 1800 hrs due to the cold weather at the time of polling, the delegation added.

UNI