Colourful kickoff to Kota Dussehra mela

:The Kota Dussehra Mela’s 125th edition has kicked off in the shadow of the model code of conduct imposed on the state for the assembly election scheduled for December 7.

The annual fair was inaugurated at the mela ground Wednesday night with the mayor of Kota, members of the Dussehra Mela Committee and of Kota Municipal Corporation kicking off the proceedings, as against the usual practice of politicians, including members of parliament and legislative assemblies, being at the forefront as chief guests.

With the model code of conduct in place (effective from the time the Election Commission announced the date for polling in five states, including Rajasthan, on October 6), none of the political leaders were on the dais to inaugurate the programmes or make announcements related to the fair, which will run for about a month.

Kota Dussehra Mela, widely considered to be the biggest Dussehra fair in state and longest in the country, holds several programmes with cine stars and popular figures drawing a huge crowd as well various competitions like wushu, wrestling, rangoli, mehendi, turban and moustache among others.

KMC commissioner Jugal Kishore Meena said political leaders will not be the chief guests at the fair this time as the election code of conduct has “clear guidelines” regarding this, whereby no public representative can attend an event as the chief guest or be felicitated at such programmes.

Mayor Mahesh Vijayvargiya, however, alleged that corporation officials were taking “undue advantage” of the code by ignoring public representatives at the fair.

KOTA