POLITICAL PARTIES in opposition in Uttar Pradesh, where assembly elections are due in February, have lodged their complaint with the Election Commission over the misuse of ‘red beacon’ fitted cars by the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ministers Naseemuddin Siddiqui and Swami Prasad Maurya at time when ‘model code of conduct’ has come into place and the dates for Uttar Pradesh assembly polls are already out. The complaint was made on Friday after the minister duo was found moving in their government vehicles while on way to meet the chief election commissioner S Y Qureshi, who was in the state capital to review electoral preparedness.

 

The leader of opposition, Indian National Congress, Pramod Tewari, while talking to the media dubbed the conduct of ministers as unfortunate and said the ministers of the ruling party must have taken a note of the election’s model code of conduct, and if they were using their ‘red light’ fitted government vehicle for meeting the election commission officials then they are guilty of violating the model code of conduct.

 

Pramod Tewari said though he himself has not seen the ministers moving in the government vehicles but as the media persons have seen them and reported, I expect the Election Commission would take a note of this and will take an appropriate action in this regard.

 

Janta Dal United general secretary Subhash Pathak said it was only the opposition parties which have been following the model code of conduct in letter and spirit whereas the ruling party ministers have been flouting the rules brazenly. “It was really shocking to see that senior ministers like Naseemuddin Siddiqui and Swami Prasad Maurya went on to meet the Chief Election Commissioner in their official vehicles,” said Pathak.

 

Samajwadi Party leaders also criticized the ruling BSP government for violating the model code of conduct. Ambika Chaudhary and Naresh Agarwal also demanded action from the Election Commissioner over the gross violation of code of conduct. Naresh Agarwal said model code of conduct should be followed by all and sundry. He expressed hope that the Election Commission would take a note of the things going in ‘Mayawati’s rule.’