Palghar: 'Whistle' party MLA told to not blow whistles

The district election department has issued a notice to Bahujan Vikas Aghadi MLA Kshitij Thakur, asking him not to blow whistles, the party's poll symbol, while campaigning for the October 21 Assembly polls, an official said on Saturday.

The notice was issued on October 16 after one of the candidates in the poll fray complained to the election authority about excessive whistling by Bahujan Vikas Aghadi candidates during rallies, he added.

In a letter addressed to the Nalasopara sitting MLA, returning officer A V Kadam asked him to desist from blowing whistles while campaigning.

The whistle is a symbol allotted to the candidate and it is not to be used while campaigning, as it is a nuisance to local residents, senior citizens and people who are ill, Kadam said in the letter.

Blowing a whistle will be considered a violation of the model code of conduct and action would be taken against the contesting candidate, he added.

Kshitij, the son of Bahujan Vikas Aghadi chief Hitendra Thakur, is contesting the state Assembly polls from Nalasopara against Shiv Sena nominee and former encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma.