If any such incident is reported, such vehicle will be seized immediately. Yes, this is the latest regulation imposed by the Election Commission in the pretext of the Assembly polls. All Regional Transport Officers have got strict instructions in this direction during a meeting held at the State capital on Wednesday.

Assistant Commissioner Sameer Shukla informed this in a meeting of representatives of political parties and public convened at DC’s office here on Thursday. The meeting was held with a view to inform the public as well as parties over the election code and its proper implementation.

He said even to display any election material on any of the private vehicles, permission should be obtained from the Returning Officer (RO) concerned.  On the day of polling, a candidate can use only three vehicles- one for himself, one for the polling agent and another for the party workers. However, any vehicle used without a pass will be seized immediately, he cautioned.

Flags
Mr Shukla said the parties can display only a single flag and a single banner measuring 4x8 ft in front of their office, opened temporarily for election purpose. However, permission should be obtained from the local body concerned and the RO for opening a temporary office. Answering a question from the public, he said the model code of conduct, particularly, the Karnataka Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1981 does not allow one to display even religious flags in public in the backdrop of elections.

Flags can be used inside a temple or a mosque, but not outside, till the election is over, the AC clarified.

Alternative for EPIC
The Election Commission has permitted members of any family to cast their vote even if they do not possess an election photo identity card (EPIC), provided any one of the family members owns it.

However, photo copy of the card is not valid unless it is attested by an official authority, Mr Shukla informed.

Caste based politics?
One of the NGO representatives present in the meeting, Kateel Dinesh Pai, alleged that the print media is promoting caste-based politics by giving caste-wise voters’ classification in their analyses. He asked whether such acts do not pertain to violation of election code. However, AC Sameer Shukla said nothing has been specified by EC in this connection. “They are free to express their views as per Article 19(1)(a) of Indian Constitution, and they have their own code of conduct too,” he replied.