Campaign for JS Polls VIPs barred from using govt facilities

The prime minister, the leader of the opposition, ministers, lawmakers and other very important persons will not get any government facilities during their campaign for the next parliamentary polls, says a proposed amendment to the electoral code of conduct.
Besides, they will not be able to allocate money or make donations from any government, non-government or autonomous funds during the pre-election period, reads the proposal drafted by the Election Commission.
The EC defined the “pre-election period” as the time from announcing the election schedule till the publishing of the gazette of election results. However, according to the existing code of conduct, 90 days from the dissolution of parliament constitute the pre-election period.
The commission yesterday finalised the draft that will be uploaded on its official website in a day or two for public opinion.
According to the proposal, the other VIPs are the speaker of parliament, chief whip, deputy speaker, deputy leader of the opposition, whip, deputy ministers and those holding equivalent posts, and lawmakers and city corporation mayors.
The VIPs cannot use government programmes as platforms for their election campaign. They are also not allowed to use any government vehicles, state-run media or state facilities during the electioneering, says the proposal.
After a meeting with commission officials at the EC secretariat yesterday, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad told reporters that the VIPs would continue their routine administrative work. But they wouldn’t be able to make any policy decisions.
On the announcement of election schedule, he said, “In the past, the commission announced the schedule 40 to 50 days before the election. This time, we will follow almost the same routine. It will be announced duly, giving enough time for election campaign.”
When a reporter asked what the EC would do if the election is not held by January 25 and the two major parties agree to contest the polls after January 25, the CEC said, “If both the sides agree … Alhamdulillah. We will definitely do whatever they decide. Law will be made accordingly and I will do everything in line with the law.”
According to the constitution, the 10th parliamentary election is to be held between October 27 and January 25.
The EC’s proposal imposes restriction on approval, announcement or setting up of foundation stone of any project under the revenue or development budget during the pre-election period.
It also prevents election candidates from exercising authority in any government development programme or joining any meeting related to such programme.
If any candidate is a member of a governing body of any educational institute, he cannot exercise the authority of his post during the pre-election period, says the proposal.
Besides, the VIPs can enter polling centres only for casting ballot. And if they are not candidates, they will not be allowed to enter the vote counting room.
They cannot use any employees of the government, non-government or autonomous bodies or educational institutions for conducting election campaign, it maintains.
On several occasions, the CEC and other commissioners said the commission would amend the electoral code of conduct in such a way that would ensure a level playing field for all.
Referring to the EC’s move, former election commissioner M Sakhawat Hussain said it is not possible to ensure a level playing field only by bringing amendment to the electoral code of conduct.
He said amendments need to be made to the constitution and the Representation of the People Order if the election is to be held under a partisan government.