Stop ‘rath prabhari’ campaign in poll-bound states, says EC

The Election Commission on Thursday directed the central government not to undertake any activities requiring the involvement of its senior officers as ‘district rath prabharis’ in the proposed ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’ starting next month in the five poll-bound states until December 5, when the elections are scheduled to be completed. Earlier in the day, the government clarified the yatra will not enter poll-bound states until after the model code of conduct is withdrawn.