43 complaints over ‘violation’ of poll code of conduct

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, December 16

As many as 43 complaints have been registered by the district election authorities against the candidates of different parties for violating the code of conduct in the last 10 days of campaigning.

The elections authorities informed that 12 complaints out of 43 had been resolved. Most of the complaints were regarding minor violations, like pasting/installing of posters and banners at public and private properties.

They said 31 complaints were under process and the staff was looking after it. No notice has been issued so far. The cases are being under consideration of the authorities concerned, following which necessary action will be taken. No major violation has been reported in the city.

According to the officials concerned, majority of the complaints this time had been received from local residents as walls of their houses were defaced. Candidates also complained against their rivals over installation of illegal hoardings at public places and chowks.

Officials claimed that ever since the code of conduct was implemented, they had removed over 500 hoardings, banners and buntings of various political parties. Inspection of every ward and main intersections of the city has been done and complaints against violators have been registered.

Assistant Commissioner, General, BS Dhillon said since he was busy in a number of works, he could not resolve all of the complaints. “We are looking after every complaint. Our teams carried out inspection even today as despite the end of the poll campaign, we got to know that there are candidates involved in activities to woo voters.”