Chhattisgarh: Development work takes a backseat as election code of conduct continues

Development work in Chhattisgarh would remain stranded till the first week of February, next year, as the election code of conduct has come into effect from today with the notification of panchayat polls.

The code of conduct is already in place since December 7 with the process of civic body elections in the state, underway. The urban body election in Chhattisgarh will conclude on January 4 with the counting of votes. The announcement of panchayat elections, today, would now continue the election code of conduct till the poll process was over.

Chhattisgarh would go to panchayat polls in three phases. The notification for the elections would be issued on December 31 while polling would take place in three phases on January 24 and 28, and February 1, 2015. The panchayat election process would be concluded by February 5.

"With the announcement of date for the election, model code of conduct had come into immediate effect in the panchayat areas in the state," Chhattisgarh Election Commissioner P C Dalei said. During the period, the state government would not take any important decision or announcement that would influence the voters, he said.

While no new project or work would be taken up, the disbursement of payment would also come to a halt that would severely affect the labourers working in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). A large number of labourers had not received the payment while the state was supposed to get financial assistance from the Centre to clear the dues.

Dalei said the election commission was exploring the option of using choppers in the panchayat polls similar to the arrangement made during state and general elections to drop polling parties in the interior areas of Naxalite-infested pockets.