Poll code timing to decide fate of Maghi Mela rallies

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, January 2

Just like 2012, this historic town may give a miss to political conferences during the annual Maghi Mela this year too. At present, all major political parties, including the ruling SAD, Congress and AAP, are in a fix of whether they would be able to hold the rallies or not.

Representatives of these parties are saying that the rallies would be held only if the model code of conduct for the upcoming elections is not imposed till January 14, which seems impossible.

The Maghi Mela rallies are held on January 14 every year. Notably, during the 2012 Assembly elections, all major political parties were worried over the expenditure limit fixed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the candidates in fray had aborted their plans of holding political conferences.

Dyal Singh Kolianwali, SAD’s Muktsar district president, said “The holding of rally will depend on the imposition of model code of conduct. If it is imposed before January 14, we will not be able to hold the rally this year because of the expenditure limit fixed by the ECI. We will, however, pay obeisance at the historic gurdwara on Maghi day.”

Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Muktsar Congress committee president, said “It seems the rally will not be held this year as the poll code is expected to be imposed soon.” Further, Jagdeep Singh ‘Kaka’ Brar, AAP candidate from Muktsar Assembly constituency, also said the decision depended on the timing of imposition of model code of conduct.

On the other hand, the state government has already organised the National Livestock Championship in December, which, in the past, has always remained a part of the Maghi Mela. However, preparations for the smooth conduct of the mela (entertainment part) for people who come from far flung areas to take a holy dip at the historic gurdwara are underway.