Govt issues model code for GTA polls: Based on the (MCC guidelines of) State Election Commission and Election Commission of India with a few modifications

The elections are conducted by the state home and hill affairs department which appoints an election authority to execute the task

The GTA headquarters in Darjeeling. : File picture

Vivek Chhetri   |   TT  |  Darjeeling   |    06.06.22  : The state government has come up with “detailed and specific” guidelines on the model code of conduct for the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) polls scheduled for June 26.

A senior state official on Sunday said: “It (specific model code of conduct for GTA elections) has been issued a couple of days ago. It is based on the (MCC guidelines of) State Election Commission and Election Commission of India with a few modifications.”

The model code of conduct is an important component for free and fair elections. The lack of such a code for the GTA election had raised questions.

The Telegraph had in its June 1 edition reported there was no “detailed and separate” model code of conduct guidelines for GTA polls unlike other elections.

The MCC issue has come under spotlight as Bulu Chik Baraik, state tribal development department minister, had called on Bimal Gurung who was on “an indefinite hunger strike” last Saturday and said that the state government could not take up Gurung’s demands because of the MCC restrictions. However, there had been no model code in place then.

The GTA elections are conducted by the state home and hill affairs department which appoints an election authority to execute the task.

So far, elections to the GTA were guided by the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (Elections) Rules, 2012, notified on March 15, 2012. The first GTA polls were held on July 29, 2012. The upcoming polls are the second.

Even though the GTA election rules cover some MCC guidelines they were not clear on many issues such as guidelines for the party in power.

The new model code guidelines, which run into eight pages are more detailed, to the extent that they cite that people provided with security cover should not be moving in the constituency with security personnel on polling day, apart from going to the polling station to vote.

All major issues like ban on use of government properties, movement of politicians, among others, have been covered in the new GTA model code.

Sources said that three observers have also been appointed for the GTA polls.

Courtesy & source