Assam Congress on Sunday submitted a memorandum to Assam’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nitin Khade against the BJP and 6 newspapers for publishing an advertisement of the BJP’s performance in the first phase of Assam Assembly election 2021.
Polling was held on Saturday (March 27, 2021) in 47 Assembly seats in the first phase of the Assam Assembly election.
The second and third phases of the Assam Assembly election will be held on April 1 and April 6, 2021.
In the memorandum, advocate Niran Borah, chairman of the legal department of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) said the advertisement of the BJP on the party’s “performance in the first phase of election” was published on March 28, 2021, in “several newspapers viz. “Dainik Axom”, “Axomia Khabar”, “Niyamiya Barta”, “Axomiya Protidin” “Amar Axom” & “Assam Tribune” ‘certifying their performance in the first phase of election in form of a news report for canvassing across the state of Assam to influence and deceive the public/voters for the remaining 2 (two) phases of election”.
The advertisement was published in the Sunday (March 28) editions of the newspapers, just a day after the conclusion of the first phase of polls.
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The chairman of the legal department of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) said the BJP has published the advertisement “certifying their performance in the first phase of election”.
The advertisement reflects BJP’s symbol with the endorsement: “The well-wishers and the workers of the BJP are delighted” & “BJP ENSURES THEIR VICTORY IN ALL THE CONSTITUENCIES OF UPPER ASSAM”.
Similarly, the English newspaper ‘Assam Tribune’ has also published the said advertisement, reflecting the BJP’s symbol with the endorsement ‘HUGE ENTHUSIASM AMONG SUPPORTERS AND KARYAKARTAS OF BJP’ & ‘BJP TO WIN ALL CONSTITUENCIES OF UPPER ASSAM’, the memorandum said.
Also read: Assam Assembly election: 72.14% voter turnout in first phase
The memorandum said the advertisement has been published by the newspapers “in form of a news report for canvassing in favour of BJP to influence and deceive the public/voters for the remaining 2 (two) phases of election across the state of Assam”.
The BJP advertisement, published on the top of the first pages of the 6 newspapers of Assam, was the talk of the town on Sunday.
All sections of people have expressed strong reactions on social media regarding the advertisement.