Notice to minister for poll code violation

The Election Commission today served a show-cause notice on Assam Rural Development Minister Ripun Bora and senior Congress legislator Haren...

The Election Commission today served a show-cause notice on Assam Rural Development Minister Ripun Bora and senior Congress legislator Haren Das for their alleged violation of the model code of conduct in their use of government vehicles.

Chief Election Commissioner BB Tandon said the notice had been served on the minister following complaints that he and Das had driven to the Guwahati Circuit House in an official vehicle to submit a memorandum to the CEC yesterday. Tandon said the minister had been asked to reply by tomorrow on why action should not be initiated against him for violating the model code of conduct.

8216;8216;The EC has a zero level of tolerance for the violation of the model code of conduct. The chief secretary has been asked to personally monitor the situation,8217;8217; Tandon told reporters during his two-day visit here . 8216;8216;I have also impressed upon civil and police officials to ensure total observance of the code of conduct which came into effect when the election schedule was announced on March 1,8217;8217; he said.

The full Election Commission, led by Tandon and comprising election commissioners N Gopalaswami and Navin Chawla, reviewed the poll preparations in the state on Monday and met representatives of both national and state recognised parties who made oral and written submissions.

An EC team has been dispatched to Assam today to visit various districts and probe other complaints of the violation of the code of conduct.

Tandon said the Commission had received a large number of complaints against the Congress party for violating the model code of conduct. 8220;Opposition parties have alleged that the ruling party was distributing yarn, cheques, bicycles and back-dated appointment letters to people in different districts after the election process was announced.8217;8217;

Muraleedharan rules out return to Congress

PATHANAMTHITTA: Even as the Congress extended the olive branch to the Democratic Indira Congress Karunakaran on Tuesday, party chief K Muraleedharan ruled out any merger and said his party was preparing to contest all 140 seats in the coming Assembly elections. 8216;8216;There is no question of returning to the Congress as the political situation that led to the formation of the party still persists. As of now, no discussion on an alliance with the UDF has taken place either,8217;8217; he said.

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Muraleedharan, son of party leader K Karunakaran, said DICK candidates for all 140 segments would be announced by March 25. The remarks come even as Chief Minister Oomen Chandy told reporters on the sidelines of the Congress State Conference in Kochi that the party had not shut its doors on Karunakaran. 8212; PTI