Election Commission nod sought for Congress' ad blitz campaign
The Congress party is likely to do the ad campaign
Bengaluru: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has written to the State Election Commission (SEC) seeking permission to put up publicity material on behalf of the Siddaramaiah government which is set to complete its second year in office next week.
The permission from the SEC is necessary as the code of conduct will come into effect from May 10 for the two-phase gram panchayat elections to be held later this month. Since the government cannot launch a massive advertisement campaign because of the code of conduct, the Congress party is likely to do the ad campaign.
Sources in KPCC told Deccan Chronicle that KPCC President Dr G Parameshwar has written a letter to the SEC Commissioner Srinivasachari seeking permission to put up publicity material highlighting the performance of the Congress government. “We have personally handed over the letter to the commissioner. The SEC will give its reply in a day or two”, sources added.
Sources said the Department of Information and Public Relations had planned a grand celebration. But, the announcement of elections to gram panchayats had scuttled its plans. Since the code of conduct would be in force from May 10 to June 10, the government was barred from putting advertisement.
“We are releasing advertisement in newspapers till May 10 highlighting two years of achievements of key departments.
“Hoardings on the government’s performance will be put up at all government offices after June 10”. Sources confirmed that AICC president Sonia Gandhi and AICC Vice-President Rahul Gandhi will not be taking part in this convention.