The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Stringent EC norms hampering campaign

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Wednesday, Mar 11, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Stringent EC norms hampering campaign

HYDERABAD: Even as the date for filing nominations in the forthcoming elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assembly is fast approaching, political parties are yet to enter into a full-fledged campaign mode.

Unlike previous elections when candidates as well as aspirants used to launch canvassing in their respective constituencies, weeks ahead of the announcement of the schedule, there is a general lull in the activity this time. While the delay in the announcement of candidates by political parties is attributed as one of the reasons for this, stringent regulations put in place by the Election Commission are believed to be the main factor behind the low key political activity.

Note of caution

Leave alone extensive utilisation of vehicles and expenditure on election paraphernalia, political parties are asking candidates to be cautious even in wall writings. “The expenditure on erasing wall writings will be accounted for in the candidates’ spending even if it is not done at their behest,” a senior Minister said.

Major political parties had seen the EC cracking the whip during the byelections in Telangana when use of campaign material like posters and banners as well as the expenditure on advertisements was at its lowest.

The Commission’s observers went ahead with inquiring into complaints of code violation by none other than Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

“It is not going to be anything different now. We want to totally prevent incidents of poll code violation in the use of convoys, public meetings, loudspeakers and other aspects,” Chief Electoral Officer I.V. Subba Rao told The Hindu.

Observers

The EC has decided to depute three observers each to cover the 42 Lok Sabha segments as well as the 294 Assembly segments that are going to polls simultaneously.

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