With the Opposition questioning the Government request that Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani be allowed to use state aircraft for campaigning at today’s Election Commission meeting, the BJP sought to bury the controversy by announcing that it was booking a private aircraft for this purpose. ‘‘The BJP has booked an aircraft with a capacity to seat six to eight persons for use by the Deputy PM in the Lok Sabha elections,’’ party general secretary Pramod Mahajan told reporters here. Mahajan, who attended today’s all-party meeting called by the EC along with party colleague Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, said though an attempt was made by the Congress to raise the issue there, the Commission shot it down. Ahead of the EC meeting, pressure had been building on the Government not to push ahead with its request for an IAF plane for Advani. As of now, that’s a privilege enjoyed by the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister. While a section within the Government felt the DPM did not need the EC’s permission to use state aircraft, others pointed out that EC rules would not allow the media to travel in the special aircraft during election season. On the issue, RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav said: ‘‘If the DPM is allowed the facility, the EC should let all CMs ministers fly state aircraft.’’ Talking to reporters after the four-hour meeting, the EC said ‘‘broadly, polling will be in four phases’’. The poll schedule would be announced after taking into account factors like board examinations, festivals, weather conditions and the harvesting season. Later, Mahajan indicated that the four dates would be April 17, 18 and May 8 and 9. At the meeting, virtually all the parties sought one-day polling in states, except in UP, considering its size. They also urged that polling not be held on the days India plays cricket matches against Pakistan. Mahajan said the EC pleaded helplessness in giving any assurance as regards the cricket matches. Asking the EC not to schedule the UP polls during the Kumbh Mela, CM and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said: ‘‘We asked the EC to allow everyone in the voters’ list to cast their ballot with or without ID cards’’. Karnataka, where the government has recommended dissolution of the Assembly, will have simultaneous polls. EC spokesperson A.N. Jha said the state government had already informed its intention to the EC and ‘‘obviously there will be simultaneous polls. We have taken that into account.’’ The EC would use EVMs for the Lok Sabha as well as the Assembly polls which are being held simultaneously. Asked about the objections raised by the Opposition at the meeting to the ‘India Shining’ advertisements in newspapers, the EC clarified that the model code of conduct would come into force only once the poll dates are announced. This will come as a boon for the BJP, which is under attack from the Opposition for its ad blitz, and Mahajan and Naqvi made it a point to thank the EC for its clarification today. The Congress had suggested at the meeting that the model code of conduct should come into force automatically from the date the Lok Sabha is dissolved, and not from the date of announcement of polls.
