The Election Commission has taken a firm stance, advising West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose to cancel his planned tour of Cooch Behar on the eve of the Lok Sabha polls' first phase, citing violations of the Model Code of Conduct, sources disclosed on Wednesday.
Scheduled for April 19, polling in Cooch Behar precedes the 48-hour silence period, during which campaigning is prohibited and begins Wednesday evening.
Upon learning of Governor Bose's scheduled visit to Cooch Behar on April 18 and 19, coinciding with the silence period and polling day, the Election Commission (EC) has intervened, advising against the proposed tour, the sources revealed.
In accordance with the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), the EC emphasized that no local events could be organized for the governor, as outlined in his program schedule.
The commission also highlighted that the district administration and police force would be fully engaged in election management during April 18 and 19.
The governor's visit would divert their attention from time-bound poll-related duties, as they would be required to provide protocol and local security coverage for the "unexpected" proposed visit, the EC noted.
Furthermore, as per Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act 1951, the "silence period" for Cooch Behar commences from 6 pm on April 17, ushering in various restrictions and heightened enforcement by election authorities, the sources elaborated.
In light of this, the EC has directed all district election officers and district police chiefs to ensure the immediate departure of all high-profile individuals, campaigners, and political workers who are not voters of the election area at the commencement of the "silence period," to uphold the integrity of the poll process, the sources highlighted.
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