Shreyas H S
Pics by Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Apr 12: The district unit of Aam Aadmi Party organized a road show in the city on Saturday April 12 as part of its electioneering. Unfortunately for the party, it amounted to violation of  model code of conduct as school children were used for campaigning.

The road show that was flagged off from Pumpwell circle passed through Kankanady, Bendorewell circle, Jyoti circle, Hampanakatta and culminated at DC's office.

The road show began after a brief speech by AAP Lok Sabha candidate M R Vasudeva who urged people to vote for him in order to defeat other key political parties who he said were indulging in corruption.

"I will always favour ideas that are beneficial to the common man. I am committed to working hard for the development of the district," he said, adding that people need to clean up the county and in turn the district to get good governance.

The road show was held ahead of the party’s mega meeting slated for Sunday, April 13. The meeting will be addressed by the party's leader top national leader and star campaigner Yogendra Yadav.

Violation of poll code

However, in a violation of Central Election Commission's directive that forbids political parties to use children for campaigning, the AAP engaged school kids to take the lead in the rally. Kids were seen wearing the party's caps and holding a banner that said, 'our candidate is M R Vasudev'.

Children taking active part in a political party's work amounts to breach of the Juvenile Justice Act. The EC had directed parties not to use children in their campaigns. However, in the rally a few kids were seen holding the party flags and shouting slogans.

When daijiworld contacted assistant returning officer Subrahmanya Prabhu, he confirmed that AAP had violated the model code of conduct by getting children to take part in the rally. He wasted no time in informing the authority concerned to look into the matter.