No more whistling: Election body warns Nalasopara MLA

The District Election Department has issued a notice to Bahujan Vikas Aghadi MLA Kshitij Thakur, asking him not to blow whistles, the party's poll symbol, while campaigning for the October 21 Assembly polls, an official said on Saturday. The notice was issued on October 16 after one of the candidates in the poll fray complained to the election authority about excessive whistling by Bahujan Vikas Aghadi candidates during rallies, he added.

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District Election Department issues notice to Kshitij Thakur

In a letter addressed to the Nalasopara sitting MLA, returning officer A V Kadam asked him to desist from blowing whistles while campaigning.

"The whistle is a symbol allotted to the candidate and it is not to be used while campaigning, as it is a nuisance to local residents, senior citizens and people who are ill," Kadam said in the letter. 

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"Blowing a whistle will be considered a violation of the model code of conduct and action would be taken against the contesting candidate," he added.

Kshitij, the son of Bahujan Vikas Aghadi chief Hitendra Thakur, is contesting the state Assembly polls from Nalasopara against Shiv Sena nominee and former encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma.

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Ex-encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma joined Shiv Sena

Earlier in September, Pradeep Sharma joined the saffron party. He is set to contest the elections from Nalasopara-Palghar district. Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray lauded Sharma saying his gun would speak, and now his 'mann' (heart) will speak, reports say. Sharma also reciprocated, saying that when he was in the force, he was always inspired by late Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray. Pradeep Sharma is believed to have done several encounters. Media has reported the number of Sharma's encounters ranging it from 150 to 300. As per reports, the hit Shimit Amin movie starring Nana Patekar 'Ab Tak Chhappan' was inspired by Pradeep Sharma and other well-known encounter specialists like him.

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Maharashtra assembly polls

The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora on September 21 announced the election dates for Maharashtra and in October during a press briefing.  The CEC informed that Maharashtra will undergo polls in a single phase on October 21, 2019. He added that the 288-seat Maharashtra legislative assembly will expire on November 9. The counting of polls will be done on October 24.

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(With PTI Inputs)