CEC to visit Gujarat amid protests against EC restrictions

Collector of Ahmedabad addressing a press meet to brief the latest decisions taken by the administration in connection with the code of conduct implied by the Election Commission.

Ahmedabad, 25 October 2012

Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath will visit Gujarat Monday to review the arrangements for the assembly polls scheduled for December.

Sampath will be accompanied by election commissioners H.S.Brahma and Nasim Zaidi.

Interestingly on the same day Rajkot is going to observe bandh against the manner in which the election commission is practicing restrictions.

The bandh call is given by Rajkot Chamber of Commerce and other trade bodies.

And on Monday, October 29th the Gujarat High Court will further hear a petition challenging some of the restrictions implied by the Election Commission.

The petition has been filed by an NGO in Ahmedabad. It’s primarily related to restrictions over carrying cash worth Rs 2.5 lakh or more.

Meanwhile Election Commission has decided to put farmers and business enterprises in the exemption category for the enforcement of the norms for carrying Rs 2.5 lakh or more cash while in transit. This was announced by Chief Election Officer, Ahmedabad Vijay Nehra today while addressing the media here.

“From now on, farmers and business enterprises will be allowed to go, if they will show even one legal document for the validity of the cash they are carrying,” Nehra said.

On producing self-attested format-A, Executive Magistrate who would be accompanying Static Surveillance Team will now be authorised to allow these farmers and businessmen to carry cash even if it is more than stipulated Rs 2.50 lakh, he added.

To curtail the misuse of cash during electioneering Election Commission has, as part of MCC, made compulsory to carry ample evidences of the legality of the cash, if someone is transferring more than Rs 2.50 lakh and only after the satisfaction of the IT officer, present at the spot, they will be allowed to go.