Date:16/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/16/stories/2007101660371200.htm

National

Congress, BJP leaders meet poll commission

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party leaders met the Election Commission separately here on Monday — the Congress, to point out that the tenure of the current Assembly in Himachal Pradesh does not expire till March; and the BJP, to urge the Commission to ensure compliance with the model code of conduct.

Talking to reporters later, Congress Working Committee member R.K. Dhawan said that with elections scheduled to take place in December, “a peculiar situation will arise in Himachal Pradesh with two elected Assemblies existing at a time.” He said the Congress had brought this to the notice of the Commission.

“Enforce poll code”

The BJP, in its memorandum to the Commission, asked it to “ensure that the model code of conduct is enforced in the State of Himachal Pradesh properly.” The memorandum signed by Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and others said the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh and his Cabinet colleagues should be “stopped forthwith” from making any new announcements or laying foundations for new projects.

Mr. Naqvi, separately, commented that the Congress wanted the Himachal polls rescheduled as it feared defeat. Mr. Dhawan retorted that the Congress was always prepared for elections.