The Odisha State Election Commission (SEC) has given its green signal to the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to observe Local Self-Government Day.
The permission for observing the LSG Day, however, comes with a rider.
BMC officials had sought clarification from the State Election Commission (SEC) on observing Local Self Government Day in view of the model code of conduct enforced across all the urban local bodies of the State.
As per the clarifications issued by the State Election Commission (SEC), even though the corporation has been allowed to observe the day, it has to refrain from laying the foundation stone of any project funded in any way by the State Government or even by the Municipality.
Even the politicians attending the event have been forbidden from making any new announcement or decision of the State Government which will benefit the public.
The advertisements and hoardings prepared by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) cannot have the name or photograph of any political figure nor any political party’s symbol.
Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation usually carries the photographs of the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in the banner and the hoarding prepared for the Local Self Government Day.
This year, the event is expected to be a low key affair with just cultural events.