New Delhi, Feb 20: Following a protest lodged by the Congress over the issue of 'India Shining' campaign, the Election Commission has appealed to the Centre not to use the tax payers' money on such advertisements ahead of the Lok Sabha polls for electoral gains. As long as the model code of conduct does not come into force, the EC can only appeal to the government and can not issue directions to it, the poll body clarified to the Congress representatives at an all-party meeting held at its office here today.

Talking to mediapersons after attending the meeting, senior Congress leaders Pranab Mukherjee and Hansraj Bharadwaj said they had suggested to the EC that the model code of conduct should be enforced from the date the Lok Sabha is dissolved to prevent the government from misusing the tax payers' money for party purposes before the elections. The EC, however, told them that certain problems might creep in if this suggestion was implemented. The code of conduct could be enforced only from the date the notification for holding elections was issued, it said. The party also suggested to the EC that the elections in a particular state be held on the same day instead of staggering it. The date of elections should be fixed keeping in view the harvesting of crops and the school examinations. A suggestion was also made to allow all those not carrying photo identity cards but having other proofs of identity like the ration card, etc, to cast their vote.

The Congress, according to Mukherjee, also urged the poll body not to provide the facility of airforce plane to the Deputy Prime Minister on par with the Prime Minister, who has been allowed this facility on security reasons, as the post of Deputy Prime Minister was not there in the Constitution. Bureau Report