New Delhi, February 12
The Election Commission (EC), giving enough indications that it means business in enforcing the rule book, today asked the states to strictly enforce the model code of conduct amidst reports of growing controversy over the use of taxpayers’ money by the government for its own publicity.

The Chief Election Commissioner, Mr T.S. Krishna Murthy, and two other Commissioners, Mr B.B. Tandon and N. Gopalaswami, at a meeting of the Chief Secretaries and DGPs of 13 states here asked them to enforce the code strictly and not to stooge to the dictates of the politicians.

The commission wants that the model code of conduct must be followed strictly and officials associated with the electoral process should be of impeccable integrity. The model code of conduct will come into force as and when the commission announces the poll dates.

During the day-long meeting, senior officials from the 13 states were told that they should strictly enforce the commission’s order to transfer officials who have completed four years in the same district and ensure that no official continued in his home district for free and fair elections, EC sources said.

They were asked to finalise the requirement of security forces, including the deployment of paramilitary forces in sensitive areas, as also fill up the vacancies of Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers, the sources said.

Andhra Pradesh Director-General of Police S.R. Sukumar, said after the meeting that “if the elections are held in two phases, then we would need 40 battalions for the state.”

Today’s meeting was the first in a series of exercises the EC is undertaking in the preparations for the Lok Sabha poll.

Those state whose chiefs attended the meeting were Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Pondicherry, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa.

The rest of the states, except Jammu and Kashmir, would be covered on February 16. A separate meeting has been fixed for the sensitive state of Jammu and Kashmir on February 17.

The commission also decided to convene a meeting of all recognised political parties on February 20 for consultations on the poll exercise.

The commission would hold consultations with Union Home Secretary Anil Baijal on the requirement of central Paramilitary forces for the conduct of general elections.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission will hear tomorrow both the factions of Nationalist Congress Party — one headed by Mr Sharad Pawar and the other by Mr P.A. Sangma — which are at loggerheads to have control over the party flag and symbol “clock” ahead of the Lok Sabha poll.

The full Election Commission would hear both the factions which are claiming that they are the original NCP having majority support and seeking the party symbol and flag

In support of their claims both the factions had already submitted documents to the three-member poll panel.

The commission is expected to give its decision within a week on the claims by both the factions.