CEO Sahoo meets representatives of recognised parties
Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo on Saturday held a meeting with representatives of recognised national and State political parties to discuss various aspects of the Lok Sabha election.
After the meeting, held at the Secretariat, DMK organisation secretary R.S. Bharathi told reporters that the discussion was about the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). The DMK raised issues regarding advertisements in Metro and Vande Bharat trains, and sought their removal, he said, adding that the party had also sought clarification on the restriction that permits star campaigners to take only five vehicles for campaigning and whether it was applicable to all 40 campaigners.
AIADMK’s former Minister D. Jayakumar said that his party had emphasised that the election officials should function in an unbiased and independent manner. “We have pressed for close monitoring of monetary transactions. Only private vehicles are checked. We have stressed that the government vehicles be checked too,” he added.
Mr. Jayakumar said that the party also asked the Election Commission to take immediate action on complaints and ensure that the EVMs were maintained safely and faults, if any, be
rectified quickly.
The representatives of the Congress, the CPI and the CPI(M) had said that they raised the issue of arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and sought the intervention of the Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on the issue.
Former MLAs of the CPI and CPI(M) Periyasamy and K. Bheem Rao said that they also raised the issue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi violating the MCC by using an Indian Air Force helicopter for an election rally. Mr. Rao said he also requested Mr. Sahoo to monitor hate speech and take action.
On the IAF helicopter issue, BJP representatives said that the Prime Minister was given exemptions from certain provisions of the MCC due to security reasons. Representatives from the DMDK, the AAP and the BSP stressed that basic amenities be ensured at polling booths.