Election code comes into effectWith the code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections coming into effect from Sunday, several restrictions on use of official machinery by the elected office-bearers and members of the public elected bodies have been imposed.All vehicles used by the elected office-bearers of the Zilla Parishad, municipal corporations and other bodies will be taken away by the district collectorate on Monday. District collector Vijaykumar Gautam held a meeting late on Sunday evening for taking steps for the implementation of the code of conduct.The State official machinery moved swiftly to cancel newspaper advertisements scheduled for Monday highlighting the achievements of the State Government, immediately after the dates of the polls were announced by the Election Commission.While the developmental works already in progress will continue, the code states that no new developmental works should be initiated or announcements be made by the elected office-bearers of ministers. The official machinery should not be used in any manner for election campaigns by the elected representatives.Two killed in mishap Two were killed in separate road accidents in the city on Saturday. According to the Bhosari police, Ambadas Daradale (40) was killed on the Nashik Road in front of the Kale Hospital.The police have arrested the driver of the matador, Vikram Vithal Shinde (35), a resident of Ghavane Vasti, Bhosari, and have charged him with causing death by negligent driving. In a separate incident, Sripati Narayan Lodhe (23) was killed when an unidentified vehicle hit his motorcycle near Pandavnagar on Saturday afternoon. According to the Deccan police, a light coloured tempo hit Lodhe who was on his way to a friend's place. The identity of the tempo driver is yet to be ascertained. The Deccan police is investigating.Cong stirSeverely condemning the State Government for its alleged neglect towards the maintenance of the Aga Khan Palace housing the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi, the city unit of the Congress has threatened to launch a satyagraha if the government failed to take necessary action within the next four days.Industrialists sore in KolhapurKOLHAPUR: THE industrialists from Kolhapur have alleged that while the number of the sick units in industrial estates has been on the increase due to the recession in the country, local government employees are demanding bribe from them at the time of submission of the monthly returns.Shiroli Manufacturers Association, an association of industrialists having their units at Shiroli on Pune-Bangalore highway, has demanded that the association's office-bearer should be allowed to remain present at the time of inspection in order to control the harassment by some corrupt officials.
