MPs can join city election campaigns: EC

The Election Commission today approved the proposed City Corporation (election code of conduct) Rules 2018, allowing Members of Parliaments (MPs) to participate in city corporation election campaigns.

The approval came at the EC meeting held at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda in the chair.

"The Commission has approved changes to 11 clauses of the existing City Corporation (Election Code of Conduct) Rules 2016," EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed told reporters after the meeting.

"Since the MPs don't hold any position in any office of profit, the EC has excluded the MPs from the "Very Important Person" (VIP) definition (mentioned in the code of conduct)," he said.

Now the MPs will be allowed to take part in the electioneering but they will not be able to use Circuit Houses at that time, according to the proposed code of conduct, the EC Secretary said.

Now the EC will send the proposed code of conduct to the Law Ministry for its vetting before finalising it.

As per the proposed code of conduct, mayoral candidates will be able to set up an election camp in each ward instead of every Thana.