Karnataka elections: Congress chief whip opposes restrictions

MANGALURU: MLC and Congress chief whip Ivan D’Souza said on Monday he will write to the State Election Commission (SEC) against officials “exceeding their limits” with regard to the implementation of model code of conduct.
D'souza said officials in Dakshina Kannada have created a situation of election emergency by not allowing political leaders to participate in private programmes.

“They have been exceeding the limits by not allowing people to organise marriage parties and private functions. Though the law permits citizens to use liquor during marriage and other functions, officials are preventing it. Even politicians are prevented from attending private programmes. I have seen several elections, but this level of code of conduct restrictions never prevailed in earlier occasions. Officials have misunderstood the actual content of the model code of conduct,” Ivan said.

He said, election officials in the district stopped a programme organised by a non-political organisation recently.

“An organisation had conducted a medical camp and they were supposed to distribute spectacles to the elderly. However, the election commission stopped the spectacles distribution programme. Officials are exceeding their limits when it comes to checking of vehicles. People are being questioned when they carry small amount of cash for their business requirement,” he alleged.