THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, May 24: The Election Commission has warned the State BJP, Congress MLA Irfan Ansari and Steel Authority of India, Bokaro and asked them to follow the Model Code of Conduct in letter and spirit.
The BJP is accused of distributing more than 400 voter slips with slogans, photos, election symbols etc. instead of standard voter slips at the polling stations during the fourth and fifth phases of voting in Jharkhand. Ab FIR has also been registered regarding this.
Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar has informed through a letter to BJP’s State Convener, Legal Cell, Sudhir Srivastava that as per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India, voters have to give unauthorised identity cards on plain paper and there should be no inscription on it. “There should not be any party symbol, candidate name or party name. All party officials and workers have been informed about these guidelines and have been asked to ensure their compliance,” he said.
Irfan Ansari’s social media post invites EC ire
After examining Congress MLA Irfan Ansari’s post on social media X handle, the EC has asked him to avoid unconfirmed allegations and criticism.
The guidelines state that no party or candidate should indulge in any activity that may spread hatred among themselves or create an atmosphere of tension between different castes and communities.
At the same time, it has also been asked to avoid such appeals for votes, which give rise to caste or communal sentiments. It has been clarified in the guidelines that the use of temples, mosques, churches and other religious places for election propaganda will be considered a violation of the model code of conduct.
Rap for SAIL for refusing paid leave
On the other hand, the Steel Authority of India, despite the guidelines of the Election Commission, had refused to give paid leave to the employees working in its Bokaro Steel Plant to vote in the sixth phase of elections.
Taking cognizance of this, the Chief Electoral Officer directed the General Manager of Bokaro Steel Plant to give paid leave to the employees for voting under Section 135B of Public Representation. Subsequently, the Bokaro Steel Plant management revised its order and announced to give paid leave to its employees on voting day, May 25.
It has also been said that the workers who go to vote in shifts will also get one day’s leave within two months.
Notably, the date of voting scheduled in the Lok Sabha constituencies located in Jharkhand for the Lok Sabha General Election 2024 has been declared a public holiday under the section of Negotiable Instruments Act 1881.
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