From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Aug 13: The Election Commission of India has permitted district incharge ministers of the poll-bound districts to hoist the tri-colour flags in the respective districts on the Independence Day on Thursday.

The Lok Sabha by-elections are being held in Bangalore rural and Mandya while Legislative Council by-elections are being held in three other constituencies this month.

As the election model code of conduct is in force in as many as nine districts, the State Election Commission authorities had sought clarifications from the EC on whether the district in-charge ministers could be allowed to hoist the national flag at the Independence Day parade in the respective districts.

Model code of conduct is in force in Bangalore Rural, Ramanagaram, Mandya, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Tumkur, Dharwad, Chitradurga and Davanagere districts.

While by-elections to the Bangalore Rural and Mandya constituencies would be held on August 21, polls to the three legislative Council seats would be held on August 22.

According to State Chief Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha that the district in-charge ministers have been permitted to hoist the national flag on the Independence Day celebrations on Thursday.

However, the ministers should refrain from making political speeches or announcing sops to the electorate as it would amount violation of the election model code of conduct, he aid.

He said the district in-charge ministers have been given permission to hoist the National Flag in their respective district headquarters.

In Bangalore, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would be hoisting the national flag at the Manekshaw Parade Grounds but his speech would be closely watched by the EC.

"We would be monitoring the speeches of all the ministers in the nine districts," he explained.

Generally, officers had been permitted to hoist the tri-colour whenever the General elections were announced and the code was put in place.