Model code violations on the rise in Bengal

Kolkata, March 21 (IANS) As the campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls heats up in West Bengal, the instances of violation of Model Code of Conduct have been on the rise with the Election Commission (EC) receiving as many as 20 complaints on a daily basis.

"We have been receiving, on an average, 20 complaints on a daily basis from various political parties," Amit Roy Chowdhury, officer on special duty in the poll panel, said here Friday.

The complaints have been coming from all the political parties in the state and the panel was looking to redress them expeditiously, he said.

The commission has also directed the circulation of an earlier circular prohibiting use of educational institutions for the use of poll campaigning by political parties.

Meanwhile, nine candidates have filed their nominations for the four constituencies of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar so far after the nomination process began Wednesday.

"So far, four candidates have filed their nominations from Cooch Behar, two from Alipurduar, one from Jalpaiguri and two from Darjeeling," said Chowdhury.