New Delhi [India], October 15 (ANI): Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury has written to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar saying that EC's move regarding the amendment to the Model Code of Conduct on promises made in election manifestos was unwarranted and the proposal should be withdrawn.

New Delhi [India], May 17 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea seeking direction to declare cash transfers or promises by political parties in election manifestos as corrupt practice under Section 123 of the Representation of People Act, 19.

Kolkata Feb 23 PTI The Calcutta High Court Wednesday directed the State Election Commissioner to examine the ground situation in each of the 108 West Bengal municipalities going to polls on February 27 and take a decision on deployment of paramilitary forcesA division bench presided by Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava hearing petitions including one by a state BJP leader said if the commissioner decides against deploying paramilitary forces then he will be personally liable to ensure that violence-free and fair elections take placeDirecting the commissioner of the SEC to collect information on conditions prevailing in municipalities where polls are scheduled the bench also comprising Justice R Bharadwaj asked him to hold a joint meeting with the home secretary and the DGP within 24 hoursThe court asked the commissioner to take a decision in writing by mentioning the relevant circumstances in support of his decision to deploynot to deploy the paramilitary forces in each of the 108 municipalitiesPraying for direction to the SEC to deploy paramilitary forces for the February 27 polls the petitioners had alleged that a state of terror is prevailing and in almost 10 per cent of the municipalities going for polls ruling Trinamool Congress candidates have won uncontested as nominations were not allowed to be filed by other contestantsOpposing the plea the SEC counsel submitted before the court that its earlier direction of February 10 was complied with and assessment of ground situation to deploy paramilitary forces for the Bidhannagar elections as had been prayed for by the petitioner was done and no need for the same was foundHe claimed that only stray incidents of violence had taken place during elections to four municipal corporations earlier this monthThe SEC counsel also denied allegations of candidates being illegally prevented from filing nomination formsThe petitioners also claimed the SEC was acting in a partisan manner and that despite announcement of the poll dates acting against the Model Code of Conduct the state government was undertaking new schemes to woo votersThe high court said that announcement or promise or commencement of any new schemeproject is not permissible but continuation of it is not affectedWe direct the State Election Commission to examine if the schemes have been allowed to operate violating the Model Code of Conduct and not to permit their implementation till the elections are over if they violate the MCC the bench said It also asked the SEC to appoint observers for the municipal electionsHaving regard to the nature of allegations which have been made in this petition we are of the opinion that the Election Commission should appoint impartial officers of IAS cadre as observers the bench directedThe court directed the SEC to take steps to install CCTV cameras at conspicuous spots in all the main and ancillary booths and preserve the footageMauve paper seals should be used in all the ballot units it added PTI AMR RBT RBT

Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], February 19 (ANI): Ahead of Assembly elections, Punjab Chief Electoral Officer on Saturday directed Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar senior Superindent of Police (SP) to register an FIR against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal "for violating Model Code of Conduct and making frivolous allegations against other parties."

Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], February 16 (ANI): Valuables worth Rs 449.55 crores in violation of the Model Code of Conduct have been seized by various enforcement teams in Punjab till February 15, after the code came into force in the state ahead of the election.

Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], February 12 (ANI): Valuables worth Rs 414.35 crores have been seized by various enforcement teams after the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct in the state of Punjab ahead of the Vidhan Sabha elections till February 11, informed the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Dr S Karuna Raju, on Friday.

Chandigarh [India], February 10 (ANI): Valuables worth Rs 404.01 crores have been seized by various enforcement teams since the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct in Punjab ahead of assembly polls in the state, informed Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Dr S Karuna Raju on Thursday.

Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], February 9 (ANI): Various enforcement teams have seized valuables worth Rs 399.64 crore in violation of the Model Code of Conduct in Punjab till February 8, State Election Commission informed on Wednesday.

Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], February 7 (ANI): After the Model Code of Conduct came into force in Punjab for the Assembly Elections, various enforcement teams seized valuables worth Rs 365.52 crores in violation of the code till Sunday, Chief Electoral Officer informed on Monday.

Magha (Goa) [India], February 3 (ANI): The District Magistrate of North Goa has ordered the closure of serving and selling of liquor across liquor bars, pubs, shops, clubs, shacks or any establishment by 11.00 pm with immediate effect till the election Model Code of Conduct is in force, said a press release.