Stop Yatra With Officials As 'Rath Prabharis' In Poll-Bound States, Centre Told

The government's plan to rope in bureaucrats for a countrywide mega rally has hit a roadblock, with the Election Commission banning the yatra in five states where elections are due by the year-end.

The Centre had asked ministries to name senior officials -- joint secretaries, director and deputy secretary -- from every district of the country to act as "district rath prabharis (special officers)" for the Vikasit Bharat Sankalp Yatra.

The Election Commission pointed out today that the Model Code of Conduct has already come into effect in five states where elections are due -- Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Telangana.