BSP candidate issued notice for poll code violation

CHANDIGARH: Deputy commissioner-cum-returning officer, Chandigarh, Mohammad Shayin, on Saturday slapped a notice on Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Jannat Jahan Ul-Haq for violating the model code of conduct of election by holding a public meeting in a city-based mosque.
"The election department received information through newspapers that BSP candidate Jannat Jahan Ul-Haq held a public meeting in a city-based mosque a day back.After confirming the same, we have issued a notice to her on Saturday for violation of model code of conduct. She has been asked o explain her position and reply within three days," Shayin told TOI.
This is the first such notice in the whole region. The development has come within a short period of three days of announcement of poll dates and election department of Chandigarh had briefed all political parties of the city, participating in the elections from Chandigarh parliamentary seat, to strictly follow the norms regarding model code of conduct for election.
Besides their own efforts to curb violations with a firm hand, Chandigarh administration has appealed people of the city to inform about any such wrongdoing in the city by dialing numbers 1950, 2700322 or 18001802095, which will be operational round the clock.
Sources in the election wing of UT administration revealed that there is a full fledged group of officers in UT, which has spread out in the entire city to watch and curb violations. A toll free number has specifically been provided for where people can inform about use of money in a wrong manner during election in the city, they said.
Key vote bank area
Jannat Jahan Ul-Haq is presently BSP's municipal councillor from ward number 23, which covers Ramdarbar, Hallomajra, Deep Complex, Faida and Bair Majra. In the 2011 municipal elections, Jannat Jahan managed to get around 6,100 votes, while her rival Congress candidate received around 5,600 votes. Comprising mainly rehabilitation colonies and villages, the ward has around 35,000 voters, making parties specifically focus on the area.