Gehlot seeks review of poll code in ‘public interest’

Business Line, June 21, 2019

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday demanded that the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) be reviewed keeping in view public interest and welfare.
“It becomes difficult for any elected government to work due to prohibition on even small work when the MCC is in effect. It should be reviewed in view of public interest and welfare,” Gehlot wrote in a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora.

‘Obstruction to duties’

Gehlot, in the letter, expressed the need to minimise the duration for which the poll code is effected and sought a review of its various provisions.
He said the implementation of code of conduct for a long time obstructs States in discharging their constitutional obligations, causing policy paralysis. The Model Code of Conduct remained effective in the country for 78 days during the Lok Sabha elections and the government work stopped — which led to problems for the public.

Conducting elections for such a long duration has “raised question mark on Election Commission’s motive and its credibility” as it did formality in the case of violation of MCC in several cases, the Chief Minister said in the letter.

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