Sreenivasa Prasad (BJP) and Kalale Keshavamurthy to file nominations on Mar. 20 in Nanjangud.

Stringent action will be taken against candidates who violate the Election Model Code of Conduct. Officers in-charge of conducting elections in Nanjangud and Gundlupet must ensure that candidates and party workers do not indulge in unfair practices to influence voters, said Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka Anil Kumar Jha.

Jha, the State’s high-ranking officer who is overall responsible for the smooth conduct of elections, visited Nanjangud yesterday where the by-elections are scheduled on April 9 along with Gundlupet Assembly Constituency. The visit assumes significance as both BJP and Congress have taken the elections as prestige issue and there are reports that people might be influenced to cast votes for a particular candidate.

Chairing a meeting with Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep, who is also the Mysuru District Electoral Officer, and Superintendent of Police Ravi D. Channannavar and other officials at the Tahsildar’s Office in Nanjangud yesterday evening, Anil Kumar Jha asked the administrative machinery to ensure that there is free and fair poll.

“The Model Code of Conduct has come into force as soon as the poll schedule was announced and we are keeping tabs on the election expenditure, vehicles used for election campaigns, candidate rallies and election publicity materials,” he said.

Jha said that the voters’ list for Nanjangud Assembly constituency will be finalised by March 21. He added that political parties are not allowed to pay money or gifts to induce the voters. The Election Commission has formed sector and flying squads to check irregularities, he said.

Jha had also a piece of advice to the public when he said that people were free to approach officers if they feel that the poll code is violated. “We have publicised the phone numbers and names of the officers in-charge of the elections and public can report any violation,” he said.

Randeep said that the administration has formed various teams to keep a vigil on the possible illegal activities by political parties. Flying squads, static surveillance teams, accounting vigilance team, media authentication and supervisory committee and Model Code of Conduct teams have been formed at district and taluk levels.

Flying Squad members have been instructed to report on public events and the campaigning activities. Squads have been directed to visit campaigning places and videograph the proceedings and examine whether the political party had sought permission to conduct the rally. The static squad has been asked to check vehicles at check-posts for possible transportation of materials violating the poll code.

Assistant Commissioner C.L. Ananda, Assistant Poll Officer Kalavathi, Additional Superintendent of Police Divya Sara Thomas, Nanjangud Electoral Officer Jagadish, Tahsildar Dayananda and other officers were present.

NOMINATION PAPERS ON MARCH 20

For the Nanjangud by-elections both V. Sreenivasa Prasad (BJP) and Kalale Keshavamurthy (Congress) will file their nomination papers on Mar. 20, one day before the deadline to submit the nomination papers expires. While Sreenivasa Prasad will file his papers between 12 noon and 1 pm on that day, Kalale Keshavamurthy will file nomination papers at 10 am.

Party sources said that before submitting their nomination papers, both the candidates will come in a large procession at their respective time.