Adampur poll
CEC asks for report
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Oct 26 — The Election Commission has sought an immediate report from the Punjab Chief Electoral Officer on the allegations of violation of model code of conduct and misuse of official machinery by the SAD-BJP Government.

The EC order follows reports in the press about a complaint made by the Congress that the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal and several ministers were touring Adampur Assembly constituency in official cars.

The byelection in Adampur is scheduled for November 25.

In his address to the Election Commission observers, the Chief Election Commissioner, Dr M S Gill, has given directions that the byelections are to be closely supervised not only by central observers but also by the Chief Electoral Officers of states, an EC spokesman said today.

He said the CEO must make repeated visits to constituency and submit reports on regular basis.

Special emphasis will be on isolated constituencies so that no state government misuses official machinery, the spokesman said adding that the Commission wants to ensure that all parties get "level-playing field".

Byelections for seven Assembly constituencies in as many states are due to be held along with the polls due for the Assemblies of Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan and Mizoram.

The byelections are to be held in Udharbond (Assam), Seohar (Bihar), Baijnath (Himachal Pradesh), Mongoya (Nagaland), Adampur (Punjab), Agra East (U P) and Namdampur (West Bengal).

According to the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, the Chief Minister had used the state helicopter on October 22 to visit Adampur constituency in violation of the model code of conduct.