Gujarat Election Officials Act on Complaints, Remove Posters in Dhoraji

In a recent development from Rajkot, Gujarat, election officials took action against posters that appeared in Dhoraji town, suggesting a preference for Congress nominee Lalit Vasoya over BJP's Mansukh Mandaviya for the Porbandar Lok Sabha seat. The posters, which described Mandaviya as an 'imported candidate' and Vasoya as a preferable choice due to his local roots, were removed following a complaint by the local BJP unit. The incident has sparked discussions on the adherence to the model code of conduct in the run-up to the elections scheduled for May 7.

Ilaben Chauhan, the nodal officer for Rajkot district appointed by the Election Commission (EC) to oversee model code of conduct-related complaints, confirmed the removal of the contentious posters. "These posters have been removed by our team. Thus, there is nothing more left to be done in this regard," Chauhan stated, highlighting the swift action taken to address the complaint.

The BJP has nominated Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya from the Porbandar seat, while the Congress has fielded Lalit Vasoya, a former MLA of Dhoraji constituency. The emergence of these posters late Tuesday night was reported by some unidentified individuals, leading to a formal complaint by the Rajkot BJP unit to the EC. The complaint accused anti-BJP elements of attempting to tarnish Mandaviya's image, who is known for his service to the people of Porbandar. Furthermore, it was claimed that such an act violated the model code of conduct currently in effect for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections across Gujarat's 26 seats.

The incident underscores the heightened vigilance by election officials in ensuring a fair and unbiased electoral process. With Gujarat set to vote on May 7, both major political parties are intensifying their campaigns amidst strict enforcement of election guidelines. The removal of these posters serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to the model code of conduct, which aims to maintain the integrity and fairness of elections.