After Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress earlier this week had alleged open violation of official machinery by the Prime Minister in the poll-bound states, the Election Commission taking cognizance of the complaint has asked the government to remove PM Narendra Modi's picture from covid vaccine certificates in the states where model code of conduct is already in place.
As per information, the Election Commission of India asked the Union Health Ministry to remove the photos from vaccine certificates. “The government has been told to adopt a system so that PM Modi's photo does not appear on vaccine certificates in poll-bound states”, say sources, adding that the certificates, however, can carry PM's photos in other states.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Feb 26 announced single-phase polling in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Assembly elections, three-phase polling in Assam, and eight phases in West Bengal.
Elections to the 140-member Kerala Assembly, the 30-member Puducherry Assembly and the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly will be held on April 6, while voting to elect the 126-member Assam Assembly will be held on March 27, April 1, and April 6.
West Bengal to go for elections in eight phases - on March 27, April 1, April 6, April 10, April 17, April 22, April 26, and the final phase on April 29. The Model Code of Conduct was brought into force immediately then.