THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, Oct 18: Freebies ahead of the Chhath Puja are restricted during this ongoing Vidhan Sabha election in Jharkhand.
Political leaders and parties used to give away freebies to the faithful/ Chhath devotees ahead of the Chhath Puja.
It included Aam ki Lakri, Saree, fruits, incense sticks, etc.
Enforcement of Model Code of Conduct
However, following the Model Code of Conduct enforced now such a freebie is disallowed for the political leaders and parties by the ECI.
State Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar, speaking to this correspondent, said, “There can’t be any distribution or giving away of any freebie by the political leader or parties or contestants in the coming celebrations.”
“It’s Model code of conduct in vogue. No cash or kind can come in the way,” the CEO warned.
K Ravi Kumar further said, “If anyone indulges in aberration, it will be a case of violation of the Model Code of Conduct.”
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Chhath Puja celebrations under scrutiny
Chhath Puja is celebrated here with great religious fervour.
A truckload of ‘Aam ki Lakri’ is parked and VIPs distribute it with great fanfare. There are instances when DCs were made chief guests on the occasion of the distribution of the Aam ki Lakri.
This Chhath Puja there will not be any such bonanza coming from the political leaders, parties or the contestants.
There is a senior political leader in the Panki assembly constituency who has been distributing thousands of sarees ahead of Chhath Puja over the years.
Chhath Puja Ghats will be under the scanner of the administration here.
There can’t be any poster, pamphlet or billboard of any contesting candidate at the Chhath Puja ghats. The ECI is very strict on it.
Chhath Puja is a mass-scale festival where political leaders and parties pitch cosy tents for the devotees.
During this Chhath Puja festival, political leaders and parties will not be able to do any such self-publicity or self-exhibition thing in the wake of the model code of conduct.
