Mumbai: Drought relief measures in the state can now be expedited as the Election Commission of India (EC) on Monday relaxed the model code of conduct (MCC) for the ongoing Lok Sabha polls. This comes in response to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ appeal to the commission.
The MCC has been in force in the state since March 10 for the general elections. Polling for all 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state got over on April 29. After this, the chief minister wrote to the EC on April 30 asking it to relax the MCC to enable undertake relief measures in drought-affected areas of the sate.
Responding to this, the EC accepted the plea and relaxed the MCC. In its communiqué dated May 5 to the chief electoral officer, Ashwani Kumar, the poll panel said it had no objection to the proposal for relaxation in the model code of conduct in view of public interest as the phase wise polling for all the 48 Lok Sabha seats is over.
However, it has put a rider stating that no staff engaged in the counting of votes, which is on May 23, shall accompany ministers who are on tour of drought-hit regions.
But on Monday, there was no official communication from the chief secretary’s office about convening the regular weekly Cabinet meeting that is normally held on Tuesday. Sources added that even now the implementation of the drought relief measures depend on the district collectors and administration.
According to state officials, as the poll panel has conveyed that the drought-related measures can be implemented, Cabinet ministers can now undertake their tours and visits to drought-affected areas.
