Election code of conduct applies to governor too, says Election Commission

Hyderabad: The Election Commission has put to rest the ongoing tussle between Raj Bhavan and the poll authorities by making it clear that the model code of conduct applies to Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan also.

Speaking to media here on Thursday, deputy election commissioner Vinod Zutshi said any head of a state, either political executive or Governor, is covered by the election code.

“He (Governor) cannot summon officials involved in election duties like collectors and SPs or any other. He cannot hold reviews with them unless on matters of urgency involving natural calamities, disasters or acute law and order problem,” Mr Vinod said, adding that even in such cases, prior permission of the Election Commission is mandatory.

The code is basically for the government. The routine administration can be run by the executive, Mr Vinod said. The deputy EC, who held an extensive review of the preparedness of the state machinery to hold assembly and Lok Sabha elections with collectors and SPs, said Andhra Pradesh is one of the states where money is used on a large scale to lure voters. Police have seized Rs 16 crore so far, within just a few days of the announcement of the polls, which indicates how expenditure sensitive the state is, he said.

Nine districts are considered “sensitive”. Sources told this newspaper that Krishna and Guntur police have sought more forces than a district like Khammam that borders Chhattisgarh. The police said the two districts are sensitive in terms of caste rivalries. Special focus will be on border districts in view of Maoist violence.
Mr Vinod said there was a huge response for the special voter drive in the state and 10 lakh new applications were received. Countrywide, 75 lakh new voters were registered in the special drive.