The NPF on Friday demanded that Nagaland CEO Abhijit Sinha immediately take stringent action against deputy chief minister Y. Patton for allegedly violating the election model code of conduct as well as breaching the clean election slogan during the polling for the Lok Sabha election on Thursday.
The Naga People’s Front (NPF) said it is necessary to take action against Patton, who also holds the home portfolio, so that Nagaland can be saved from all anti-social elements, particularly during the electioneering process.
The NPF also asked the chief electoral officer (CEO) to immediately take action against the erring government officials, who were deputed as presiding officers and polling officers, for encouraging and allowing such malpractices.
In a statement, the NPF said it was taken aback and shocked to come across the video, which showed the “nefarious act” of Patton wearing the saffron party traditional scarf and entering the 37 Riphyim Old polling station under in his home constituency Tyui in Wokha district before casting votes for unprecedented eight times in the Lok Sabha election on Thursday.
Also read: Nagaland deputy CM Patton violates EC norms, says NPCC
“It is never in the wildest of dreams, we expect a leader, in the form of deputy chief minister who also holds the Home portfolio, instead of advocating and guiding the future generation to be sensible with the law and order, to totally violate and defy and demoralize the virtue of the law abiding citizens,” the NPF said.
The party pointed out that the Election Commission of India has banned display of party election symbol in any form within the parameter of 200 metres from the polling booth on the day of the polling by the political parties or candidates.
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But the No. 2 in the People’s Democratic Alliance government in Nagaland defied all norms and regulation set in the election code of conduct and entered the polling booth wearing the BJP scarf to cast “his votes”, the NPF wondered.
It said another stunning show of the video was that Patton was clearly seen proxy voting for eight times, breaching the long-cherished demand of clean election “one man one vote”, which is not only advocated by the government agencies but also by the churches, civil societies etc.
On Thursday, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) also demanded action against Patton for violating the election model code of conduct.