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Dimapur, Oct. 4 (EMN): Days after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for bye-election to three Lok Sabha seats and 30 assembly seats in several states, including one in Nagaland, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the state on Monday issued instructions on enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and release of fund under MP and MLA Local Area Development (LAD) scheme.
The bye-election to the 58-Shamatore-Chessore (ST) Assembly Constituency, which has been left vacant after the death of NDPP legislator Toshi Wungtung, Advisor to the department of IPR, State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and Village Guards, on July 1 this year.
While the MCC came into force when the schedule of the elections was announced in late September, the ECI issued further instructions mentioning that it would be applicable in the area of concerned constituency only in case it is comprised in the state capital, metropolitan cities or Municipal Corporation. For the rest, the MCC would be enforced in the entire district(s) covering the constituency going for bye-election.
It stated that no schemes should be advertised in the districts where the bye-elections are being conducted when the MCC is in force.
Central and state ministers shall not combine in any manner their official tours with election works after the announcement of the bye-elections and the ECI's instructions on implementation of transfer policy be applied to all officers connected with the conduct of bye-election in the state as well as deployment of any officer from outside the constituency for any election-related duty.
The EC went on to inform that the state government may announce D.A as a routine affair but it should not be published as the government's achievement.
No fresh release of funds under the Member of Parliament (including Raiya Sabha) MLA and MLC local area development (LAD) fund shall be made in any part of the districts where bye-elections are to take place. In case the constituency is comprised in the state capital, metropolitan cities or Municipal Corporation, the instructions shall be applicable in the area of concerned constituency only.
The EC instructed that no work can start till the election process is over, while works that have started can continue. However, schemes for which funds have been released and materials reached the site, can commence work and payments for completed works can be released.
The bye-poll to the vacant constituency in Nagaland will be held on October 30 and counting of votes on November 2.