Breach of poll code: Take action against govt for launching ‘Seva Setu’, says Cong

State Congress vice-president and party’s MLA from Jamnagar (rural) Raghavji Patel has asked the State Election Commission (SEC) to initiate action against the state government for violating the electoral code of conduct after announcement to panchayat elections in 10,000 villages a few days ago.

Patel, in a statement, said that the announcement of `Seva Setu’ (on-the-spot resolution of public grievances) programme by the state government and its immediate implementation soon after the declaration of poll dates for village panchayat amounted to flagrant violation of electoral laws.

He said that the programme being implemented with government’s money in villages for which the elections have been declared, was sure to influence the voters in favour of the ruling political party. “This is grossly unfair,” said Patel.

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Accusing SEC of not being just and fair, the Congress leader said that SEC being a constitutional body must take a neutral stand and ensure that the state government did not violate the electoral code of conduct.

“The silence of SEC on the issue makes it clear that SEC working at the behest of the BJP government,” alleged Patel.