With the model code of conduct coming into force in the wake of the Election Commission announcing the calendar of events for the Lok Sabha polls, official vehicles allotted to the chairpersons of boards and corporations and elected representatives of various local bodies and other statutory bodies are being taken over by election officers.
The process of surrendering official vehicles began on Sunday evening following the announcement of the poll schedule. Though technically there is no bar on use of official vehicles for non-political work, the administration takes over the vehicles as it is not possible to monitor vehicle misuse for election campaigning.
Deputy Commissioner Abhiram G. Sankar, who is also the Election Officer, issued a note on surrender of official vehicles sanctioned to chairpersons, vice-chairpersons and ex-officio members of boards and corporations and statutory bodies.
The president and vice-president of Mysuru Zilla Panchayat, the city’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor, the chairpersons of standing committees of Mysuru City Corporation, the chairperson of Mysuru Urban Development Authority, and the head of Karnataka Exhibitions Authority, among others, will have to surrender their official vehicles.
Incidentally, the chairpersons of MUDA and KEA — Vijaykumar and Abdul Aziz, also known as Abdulla, respectively — took charge only on Saturday and had to surrender their official vehicles by Sunday evening. The vehicles in the city are being surrendered to the district officials, while those in taluk areas are being taken over by the taluk-level officials.
Official vehicles will be taken over by the district administration for election work along with the drivers assigned to the vehicles, Mr. Sankar said.
The administration’s requirement of vehicles for election-related work will be reduced to a certain extent with the redeployment of official vehicles. Additional vehicles, if needed, will be sourced from private operators.
Published - March 11, 2019 10:38 pm IST
