AfterBengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress earlier this weekhad alleged open violation of official machinery by the Prime Minister in thepoll-bound states, the Election Commission taking cognizance of the complaint hasasked the government to remove PM Narendra Modi's picture from covid vaccinecertificates in the states where model code of conduct is already in place.
Asper information, the Election Commission of India asked the Union HealthMinistry to remove the photos from vaccine certificates. “The government hasbeen told to adopt a system so that PM Modi's photo does not appear on vaccinecertificates 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, andeight phases in West Bengal.
Electionsto the 140-member Kerala Assembly, the 30-member Puducherry Assembly and the234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly will be held on April 6, while voting to electthe 126-member Assam Assembly will be held on March 27, April 1, and April 6.
WestBengal 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. TheModel Code of Conduct was brought into force immediately then.