Four more party banners seized

VADODARA, Aug 29: District Collectorate officials seized four more huge banners belonging to both the political majors from the Panigate ...

VADODARA, Aug 29: District Collectorate officials seized four more huge banners belonging to both the political majors from the Panigate area on Sunday evening which had reportedly been put up in public places without permission, and hence constituted a violation of the electoral code of conduct. With this, the total number of seized banners and posters has crossed 200.

Deputy election officer M A Chauhan told Express Newsline that two 10-feet-long cloth banners belonging to the Congress and two to the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP were removed. The BJP banners had been slung across the lanes from electricity poles by unknown party workers. Complaints in this context had been lodged with the election office earlier in the day, Chauhan said.

Elaborating about the ongoing official action, he said that the administration had set up seven special teams since Saturday under the deputy collectors to deal rapidly with electioneering complaints. Such complaints were recorded, following which teams were sent to the spot to cross-check the complaint and redress it, if required, he said.

According to Chauhan, unlike the past, this time the administration had provided brushes, white-wash and long bamboos to all the collectorate teams, which cleaned the area on the spot. Earlier, this used to be done by Vadodara Municipal Corporation officials on being informed by the collectorate, which often delayed the action.

Meanwhile, electioneering in the district was picking up with the deadline 8212; September 3 8212; drawing nearer. According to Chauhan, while the Congress and BJP candidates have so far spent only about Rs 2 lakhs each on campaigning, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Janata Dal United candidates have not crossed Rs 1 lakh yet.

However, the BJP received permission for use of four more vehicles for electioneering on Sunday total 25 vehicles, while the Congress sought one more to take its electioneering vehicles8217; total to 56. The NCP is using only 17 vehicles.

Meanwhile, according to official sources, NCP candidate Upendrasinh Gohil had also sought permission to play an audio cassette prepared exclusively for his electioneering. 8220;There is no rule on the audio cassettes, therefore nothing has been done about cassettes being played by other parties. However, we have spoken to the Gandhinagar authorities in the context, and may get a reply by Monday8221;, Chauhan said.