Model Code of Conduct in full swing in Nagaland

KOHIMA: Nagaland chief electoral officer Abhijit Sinha asked banks to report daily to the district election officer on suspicious withdrawal of cash from the bank account of any individual. If cash exceeding ₹50,000 was found in a vehicle carrying a candidate, his agent or party worker, it would be seized, Sinha said in a statement. The directives were issued as part of the Model Code of Conduct, which came in force in Nagaland in view of the elections to the 60-member Assembly on February 27. Posters, election materials or drugs, liquor, arms or gifts items valued at more than ₹10,000, likely to be used for inducement of electors, or any other illicit articles also found in a vehicle, shall also be seized, the statement said. Sinha also asked citizens carrying cash more than ₹50,000 to carry relevant documents to substantiate the source and purpose of the money. The Model Code of Conduct came into force in the state from January 18. In the statement issued on Wednesday, the CEO reiterated the directives issued by Election Commission on the Code of Conduct, electoral offences and election expenditure monitoring. No new government scheme or project should be announced and those already approved, should not be started, if work on it has not yet begun, the statement said. Rest houses, dak bungalows or other guest houses of the government should not be used for carrying out any political activity, the statement further went on to say.