Model code spoils the party for leaders

Earlier this week, a car Gowda had borrowed from one of his partymen was seized in Mysore district. The Janata Dal Secular party8217;s national president said he would protest against the seizure by asking election officials to keep the car they seized. Claiming attempts were being made to restrict his movement, Gowda argued that election officials had been informed of his vehicle change plans.

On April 26, the EC had seized a helicopter used by state Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for his failure to notify the EC of its use in the course of campaigning. Congress leaders protested against the seizure, saying permission had been obtained through the local police to use the helicopter. In one case, the Commission has pulled up a district official for issuing vehicle-use permits for transport of election material after a vehicle was found to be travelling without it.

The EC has been maintaining a tight vigil on violations of the model code. With the distribution and use of party T-shirts and caps being banned in the campaign, many leaders have complained that their party activists are being forced to campaign without any cover under the summer sun.

The BJP has submitted a memorandum to the EC, stating that 8220;all sorts of unreasonable restrictions8221; were being imposed 8220;on citizens in general and political parties in particular8221;. The actions of the police in implementing the EC orders 8220;bring back to us black memories of the Emergency8221;, says the BJP memorandum.