Political parties seem united in expressing their displeasure over the blanket code of conduct across the state implemented by the state election commission (SEC) on Monday ahead of the municipal council and municipal panchayat elections.

The state cabinet, the NCP and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis have expressed concern over the blanket code of conduct with Mr Fadnavis stating that he will write to the state election commissioner.

According to a cabinet insider, several ministers have expressed dissatisfaction with the SEC. Later, speaking to media persons, Girish Bapat, minister for food and civil supply, acknowledged that ministers were disappointed and said that the issue had been discussed in the state cabinet.

\"As the state election commission has imposed code of conduct in almost all districts except three to four districts as the municipal councils go to polls. But it will stop all development works,\" said Mr Bapat. He added that the code of conduct would be for a period of six months. \"It means the state cannot take any decision pertaining to development and that is not good,” he said.

Meanwhile, ministers have urged the CM to intervene and ask the SEC to give some relaxation; according to Mr Bapat. Another minister on condition of anonymity said, “The code of conduct should be applicable in the tehsil or city in which the municipal council election is due. Whereas the remaining part of the district should be kept free of the code of conduct. “It’s impossible to convince the state election commission to give some relaxation from the ideal code of conduct as it is not in its capacity to take the decision,” he claimed.

Mr Fadnavis too agreed with ministers and said he would write a letter to the SEC. “I will write a letter to the SEC and will ask for relaxation from the code of conduct,\" he told reporters.

Ajit Pawar, former deputy chief minister and NCP leader too opposed the idea of the entire district coming under a single code of conduct.