Jaipur: State Election Commission (SEC) Saturday announced the withdrawal of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) across Rajasthan with immediate effect, citing the completion of urban local body elections. The decision has triggered controversy as the election for the deputy chairperson of Khatu Shyamji Municipality is scheduled for Sunday.The order to lift the MCC was issued by SEC secretary Rajesh Verma and addressed to the chief secretary. “It (lifting MCC) will not have any impact on the election (for deputy chairperson),” Verma said, attempting to clarify SEC’s position amid the controversy.Earlier, through its Sept 22 order, the commission ended MCC in 304 urban local bodies, excluding Jaipur, Jodhpur and Kota municipal corporations and Suket and Khatu Shyamji municipalities, where the election process was pending. In these 304 urban local bodies, MCC was lifted after completion of the election for the posts of deputy chairpersons.SEC has also relaxed restrictions on relieving officers and employees from election duty and allowing them to assume charge of their regular postings. The relaxation will remain in force until the announcement of the upcoming Panchayati Raj elections. The MCC restrictions previously included a complete ban on relieving officers and employees assigned to electoral duties until the general elections to the panchayati raj institutions were concluded.The latest announcement led to discussions about the implications of lifting MCC just before the crucial municipal elections in Khatu Shyamji, with several stakeholders questioning the timing and the potential influence it may have on the electoral process.
