MUMBAI: Maharashtra govt was forced to drop a tender published by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation apart from withdrawing at least 112 govt resolutions (GRs) issued after the model code of conduct (MCC) came into force on Tuesday. This, following queries raised by the Maharashtra Chief Electoral Office on Wednesday evening. As many as 359 GRs were issued on Oct 15, the same day when assembly polls were announced at 3.
30pm. Also, around 23 GRs were issued on October 16, the day after the model code came into force. By Wednesday evening, the state govt website showed only 247 GRs for October 15 and GRs issued on October 16 were reduced to 2.
The withdrawal came on Wednesday after the media asked the chief electoral office about the potential violation of the poll code in issuing tenders and GRs. In response, additional chief electoral officer Kiran Kulkarni said, "We will speak to the govt regarding tenders and GRs issued after 3.30pm when the code of conduct came into force.
" Later speaking to TOI, Kulkarni said, "The MTDC had decided to remove the tender by Wednesday morning itself. But they removed it after we spoke to them in the evening." He said only tenders in the exempted category were allowed to be floated while the code was in force.
Kulkarni also confirmed that all GRs issued after 3.30pm on and after the 15 had been withdrawn after the chief electoral office spoke to the government. "The government is only allowed to issue GRs which are not targeted a.