How powerful does the DM become when the code of conduct is imposed?
New Delhi: Lok Sabha elections are near. The Election Commission is holding a press conference on Saturday 16 March. There are speculations that the Commission will announce the election program during this time. With this, the Model Code of Conduct will be implemented across the country. The government will not be able to take any new decisions once the code of conduct is implemented. There will be governments in the country, but till the election results come, they will be in a passive mode. The country will run only on the guidelines of the Election Commission.
DM becomes District Election Officer
The Prime Minister, Chief Minister and ministers of all governments will have to follow the instructions of the Commission. With this, officers across the country will become even more powerful. The most powerful among all these will be the District Magistrate of the district. He will assume the post of District Election Officer and without his consent not a single leaf will blossom in the district. Even a small program in the district or the Prime Minister’s rally will not be possible without the orders of the DM of the district. Let us understand in this article how powerful the District Magistrate i.e. DM becomes during the Code of Conduct.
Officers are reviewed before elections
Before the code of conduct is implemented, the Election Commission conducts a review of the officials. After the review, the Commission gives its opinion to the government and after this, transfers of officers are also seen. The Election Commission tries to resolve all the issues at the officer level before the elections. At the same time, even during elections, many times complaints about officers come to the Commission, yet it takes appropriate action and makes transfers when necessary.
Now if we talk about what is the power of DM during the code of conduct? In simple language, he becomes the most powerful person in the district. Leave alone local MLAs and MPs, even the government cannot interfere in the work of the DM. Rallies of candidates within the district cannot be possible without the consent of the DM.
DM’s permission has to be taken even for PM’s rallies.
During this time, you can estimate the power of the District Magistrate from the fact that even the Prime Minister cannot hold a rally, public meeting or road show in the district without permission. Candidates have to make rounds of DM i.e. District Election Officer for every small and big rally. The DM also has the responsibility of deciding how much the candidate will spend, how he will hold the rally, what he can do and what he cannot do. In short, from the first moment of implementation of the code of conduct till the formation of the next government, all the powers of the district rest with the District Magistrate i.e. District Election Officer.
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