'We will abide by rules and regulations laid down by the election commission and the state government. What right does the PCB has in asking us to go by their rules?,' Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy said.
Both Trinamool Congress and its ally Congress on Tuesday categorically declared they are not going to abide by the norms laid down by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) during campaigning for the assembly poll.
The two parties said they will only go by the rules and regulations set by the election commission and the state government.
"We will abide by rules and regulations laid down by the election commission and the state government. What right does the PCB has in asking us to go by their rules," Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy said.
The two parties, who were asked to attend an all-party meeting convened by the chief electoral officer Sunil Gupta in Kolkata, said that they were not informed that the WBPCB officials had also been asked to attend.
"We have boycotted the meeting," he said. The Congress also walked out of the meeting.
Later, Gupta told reporters that the meeting was called at the behest of the chief election commissioner regarding noise pollution and miking norms.
He said that the WBPCB had been asked to clarify on certain circulars and guidelines issued by it.
In view of the last CBSE examination scheduled for April 13 and with the first polling date being April 18 in north Bengal, Gupta said the political parties had sought a relaxation on campaign norms since they felt the time available will be too short.
He said that the parties had urged him to advance the campaign time from April 8.
"We will send their suggestions to the CEC," he said.
Relating to the alleged violation of the model code of conduct by finance minister Asim Dasgupta, Gupta said that the chief election commissioner (CEC) had issued an instruction in this regard.
He said that the finance secretary will have to certify that he will not give any effect to the files and orders he had signed soon after the model code came into effect from March 1 evening.
Regarding overseas electorate, he said that the CEC had modified the rules stating that the voters concerned could not self attest their passports instead of the Indian missions.
The details and the signatures would then be verified from the local address mentioned in the passport.
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