The reduction of ban period of BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma from 48 hours to 24 hours by the Election Commission seems to be not have gone down well with the Assam Congress.
Just hours after the Election Commission reduced the ban period of BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma from 48 hours to 24 hours, Assam Congress slammed the poll panel terming it a “dark day” in India’s parliamentary democracy.
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The Congress said that the Election Commission “does not have the guts to sustain its own order”.
Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said, “A dark day for Parliamentary democracy. EC doesn’t even have the guts to sustain its own order. Deplorable that EC buckles under (Narendra) Modi government’s pressure and reverses its own order of ban on Himanta Biswa Sarma. History will neither pardon EC nor BJP for this sin.”
Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill in a tweet also slammed the poll body and said, “By relaxing the ban on Himanta Biswa Sarma, EC itself has given the proof that they are involved in fixing the election for the BJP. EC must explain why sudden change of heart? Who in BJP called up to threaten them? EC shamelessly becoming BJP co-conspirator in hijacking democracy.”
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After BJP leader and Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tendered “unconditional apology”, the Election Commission reduced his ban period to 24 hours from 48 hours.
Assam BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma tendered an “unconditional apology” to the Election Commission on Saturday (April 3).
Himanta Biswa Sarma further ‘assured’ the Election Commission of abiding by the Model Code of Conduct in the future.
In his apology BJP leader and Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated: “…accept my sincere regret and assurance of abiding by MCC (Model Code of Conduct) in future…”
“…be further pleased to reduce the period of debarment from election campaign from 48 hours to 24 hours,” Assam BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma added in his ‘apology’ letter to the Election Commission.
Himanta Biswa Sarma pleaded before the Election Commission to reduce his ban period on the grounds that he himself is a candidate in the constituency which is scheduled for polls in the third phase of Assam Assembly elections on April 6.
Also read: Assam Congress moves Election Commission over EVM ‘theft’ and ‘entry’ into strong room
Following Himanta Biswa Sarma tendering apology to the Election Commission, the Election Commission “reduced the period of debarment from election campaign from 48 hours to 24 hours”.
“The Commission, having considered your aforesaid unconditional apology and assurance/undertaking, in the above mentioned representation, has decided to modify its Order dated 2nd April, 2021 and reduce the period of debarment from election campaign from 48 hours to 24 hours,” the Election Commission stated in the letter to Assam BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma.