District Collector Amit Meena has restrained Kerala Chalachitra Academy chairman Kamal from inaugurating an international film festival being organised by the Chalachitra Academy at Nilambur from Friday.
The Collector’s order restraining Mr. Kamal from the inaugural function came in the wake of a complaint filed by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) pointing it out as a violation of the election code of conduct.
The election code of conduct has come into force in the district since the declaration of a byelection in the Malappuram Lok Sabha constituency after the death of E. Ahamed, MP, on February 1.
A government appointee, Chalachitra Academy chairman Kamal’s name was among the potential Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidates being considered in Malappuram. Even though he will not inaugurate the film festival, he is strongly rumoured to take part in the mela.
Meanwhile, no nominations were filed on the first day on Thursday.
Mr. Meena said that nominations would be accepted between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. until March 23. The scrutiny of nominations will take place on March 24. Candidates can withdraw their nominations before March 27. Different squads of election officials began their work on Thursday.
Among them are flying squads, static surveillance teams, anti-defacement teams and video surveillance teams formed for seven Assembly segments. Malappuram Lok Sabha constituency comprises the Assembly segments of Perinthalmanna, Mankada, Malappuram, Manjeri, Kondotty, Vallikkunnu and Vengara.
