EC pulls up Sushma for poll code violation

NEW DELHI, Oct 28 (PTI) — The Election Commission has pulled up Delhi Chief Minister Sushma Swaraj for undertaking police supervisory work in a "very obvious propagandist manner" in the Capital apparently violative of the model code of conduct in view of the next month’s Assembly elections.

It also asked the Union Home Ministry to take this matter up at the "highest level" for necessary corrective action to ensure a level-playing field for elections and professional functioning of the police.

The commission, which reviewed the situation in the states going to the polls, sought an immediate and early action, highly placed sources said.

It pointed out to the Home Secretary that under the law the Delhi Police was to function professionally under the direction of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs only, the sources added.

Ever since Ms Sushma Swaraj took over as Chief Minister a fortnight ago, she had been conducting surprise checks at police stations even at midnights and pulling up personnel for alleged negligence.

The commission’s warning comes two days ahead of its notification for conducting Assembly elections in Delhi along with Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Mizoram.

The Commission also directed Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh governments to seal their borders with other states and take security measures in view of next month’s Assembly elections.

The commission which held a meeting of Home Secretaries and senior police officers of all four states going to the polls, has gone into detail of arrangements as well as availability of forces, highly placed sources said.

For the first time, the commission directed the Andhra Pradesh government to seal its border with Madhya Pradesh and take security measures keeping in view the Naxalite menace.

The commission directed Uttar Pradesh and Haryana governments to seal their borders with Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to prevent "goonda elements" getting across to interfere. It also wanted preventive action in these two states in the border districts and sought weekly reports.

The commission asked the Rajasthan government to take effective steps to prevent exchange of vehicles with its neighbouring states, the sources said.
The meeting, chaired by the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr m s gill, was attended by Union Home Secretary B. P. Singh.