New Delhi, Feb 12: In the midst of the controversy over the governments' publicity blitz ahead of Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission (EC) today directed the state governments to firmly implement the model code of conduct once the poll schedule is announced.
A clear direction to this effect was given by Chief Election Commissioner T S Krishna Murthy and the other two Election Commissioners B B Tandon and N Gopalaswami at a meeting with Chief Secretaries, Home Secretaries and DGPs from 13 states.

During the day-long meeting, senior officials from the states were told that they should strictly enforce the Commission's order to transfer officials who have completed four years in the same district.
They also gave orders to ensure that no official continued in his home district for free and fair elections.

They were asked to finalize the requirement of security forces as also fill up the vacancies of Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers.

The rest of the states, except Jammu and Kashmir, would be covered on February 16. A separate meeting has been fixed for the sensitive state of Jammu and Kashmir on February 17.
Today's meeting was the first in a series of exercises the EC is undertaking in the preparations for the Lok Sabha polls.
The Commission has also decided to convene a meeting of all recognised political parties on February 20 for consultations on the poll exercise.
The Commission would hold consultations with Union Home Secretary Anil Baijal on the requirement of Central paramilitary forces for conduct of the General Elections. Bureau Report