Maha govt to write to SEC over duration of Code of Conduct

Maharashtra cabinet today expressed concern over the "long duration" of Code of Conduct for the coming municipal council and nagar panchayat elections, saying it will affect the development works in the state.
The State Election Commission (SEC) announced the schedule of elections yesterday and the Code of Conduct came into force with immediate effect.
Parliamentary affairs minister Girish Bapat said the government planned to write to the SEC on the issue.
The Code has come into effect for all the districts though the elections are to be held only in a part of the district and it should be in force only in the area where elections are scheduled, Bapat said.

Development works should not be stopped due to the Code of Conduct, he contended.
Opposition parties, including the Congress and NCP, also took the same view.

Congress leader Narayan Rane said development works would be severely affected and the Code of Conduct should be in force only in the poll-bound area.
NCP leader Ajit Pawar appealed the SEC to withdraw the Code of Conduct from the places where there are no elections.
As many as 212 civic bodies (municipal councils and nagar panchayats) in 25 districts would go to polls in four phases between November and January.