Political parties urged to adhere to model code of conduct
Wayanad District Collector and District Electoral Officer Renu Raj has urged all political parties to adhere to the model code of conduct that came into force with the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing the media here on Tuesday, Ms. Raj said squads had been constituted for maintenance of law and order in the district. Candidates can submit their nomination papers from March 28, and the last day for submitting them is April 4. Scrutiny of nomination papers will be held on April 5. The last day for withdrawal of nominations is April 8, and voting will be held on April 26. Counting of votes will be held on June 4. There are 14 lakh voters, including 7,05,128 men, 7,24,637 women, and 14 transgender voters in the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency that is spread over seven Assembly constituencies in three districts. There are 1,324 polling stations in the Lok Sabha constituency.
A 24hour control room started functioning at the collectorate, and the public can submit complaints through numbers 04936204210 and 1950 (tollfree).
Communist Party of India (CPI) State secretary Binoy Viswam has again questioned the Congress party’s political wisdom in fielding its former president Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad in the Lok Sabha polls, where he is pitted against the CPI’s Annie Raja.
“Mr. Gandhi can contest from anywhere in the country. But his choice of a segment also reflects the Congress party’s political wisdom and farsightedness. Instead of looking out for shortterm gains, that party should think about longterm consequences,” he told the media here on Tuesday.
Mr. Viswam pointed out that the Hindi heartland, which sends the highest number of MPs to the Lok Sabha, was the focal point of the political battle against the Rashtriyaswayam Sevak Sangh and the BJP. “Kerala sends only 20 MPs to the Lower House of Parliament, none of who
Is it wise to abandon a contest in the Hindi heartland and fight the elections in Wayanad?
CPI State secretary
will support the BJP. Is it wise to abandon a contest in the Hindi heartland and fight the elections in Wayanad?” he wondered.
The CPI leader also read out from a letter sent to Mr. Gandhi by M.G. Davood Miakhan, the grandson of M. Mohammed Ismail, founder president of the Indian Union Muslim League, opposing his plan to contest from Wayanad.
Replying to a question, Mr. Viswam said that the main contest in Kerala was between the Left Democratic Front and the United Democratic Front.
He alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was repeatedly visiting Kerala and south India seeking votes as he was unsure of returning to power at the Centre.