GUWAHATI: The Assam Congress on Thursday (March 21) said that it has lodged a complaint against senior BJP leader and state chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma with the election commission, alleging that the latter’s remarks during one of his recent campaign trails has violated the model code of conduct (MCC).
Assam Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah in a letter addressed to chief election commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar stated that CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has ‘willfully’ and ‘deliberately’ violated the model code of conduct (MCC).
“The Assam chief minister on March 18 claimed that all the candidates of Indian National Congress will join BJP if he wishes. He further commented that all Congress candidates will join BJP even if they win the election and so there is no point in casting a vote in favour of Congress. The said statement of the Chief Minister got wide publicity and it is sending the wrong message amongst voters in general,” Borah stated in his letter.
The Assam Congress chief added that the CM’s remarks violated the model code of conduct (MCC) on two accounts.
“This, according to us is in violation of Model Code of Conduct on two counts: (a) by making such outrageously false statement which is not backed by any proof, he is trying to influence the voters choice which is not in accordance with the Model Code of Conduct; (b) by making the said statements he is also trying to lure Congress candidates which again is not in tune with the conduct of free and fair election. It has been again and again commented by the Election Commission itself that the political leadership during election should not indulge in loose talk during electionary and also should not make unsubstantiated allegations,” Borah added in the letter.
Borah urged the CEC to initiate “strict action” against the Assam CM for the alleged violation of the model code of conduct (MCC).
“The above referred statement on the face of it being a violation of the model code of conduct, the Hon’ble Commissioner should take strict action against the Chief Minister. We hope the Election Commission of India by maintaining in its impartiality will initiate action against the Chief Minister,” Borah further stated in his letter.