Assam Congress on Saturday lodged a written complaint with Election Commission India (ECI) against Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for violating the model code of conduct.
Addressing a press conference in Dibrugarh on Saturday, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhupen Kumar Borah said, “Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has violated the model code of conduct during an election campaign in Mariani.”
“We have demanded that the ECI should bar him from campaigning further for violation of model code of conduct,” Borah added.
Borah said, “We have filed a complaint with the ECI and if ECI fails to take any action against the Assam chief minister then we will go to court against the ECI.”
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“The chief minister, who had taken the oath of office to protect the Constitution and discharge his duty as per its provisions is seen to have total disregard for the Constitution and have blatantly and brazenly violated the model code of conduct while delivering campaign speeches by making new announcements,” Borah said.
APCC president Borah accused the BJP government of taking a huge amount of loans to conduct the by-polls for the five constituencies.
“Within a very short span of time the BJP government has taken 8,400 crore loans and most of the amount will be spent on salaries and Orunodoi scheme. The loans will be a burden for the people of Assam,” Borah alleged.
Borah alleged that now the Assam BJP will spend Rs 30-Rs 40 crore in the by-election.
“During meeting in Mariani constituency, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made a slew of announcements for the 40 gardens of the constituency. He announced a package of Rs 1 crore for each garden thus promising Rs 40 crores to develop the line roads in the gardens,” Borah said.
The APCC president said, “The chief minister has also been repeatedly making statements while campaigning that for the development of any Legislative Assembly it is important for an MLA to belong to the ruling party.”
“He also announced that if any sitting MLA from Opposition party joins BJP, he will provide development projects worth Rs 2,000 crore in his constituency. The BJP has a majority and they are doing whatever they want to do,” Borah said.
Borah further added, “It was clear from the above statements that the chief minister has lowered the prestige of Indian Parliamentary System, the Indian Election System and the Indian Constitution.”
“Such statements are totally unbecoming of a chief minister who is not only the chief minister of the people who vote for the ruling party but also of all people of Assam irrespective of party affiliation.”
“But the very fact that he has given such statements even being the constitutional head. He has expressed lack of respect, disdain and disregard for rules or laws as per the Constitution,” Borah said.
The APCC has taken strong exception to the statements of chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stating that these are “clear violation of model code of conduct”.
APCC has demanded that the Election Commission of India take due cognizance of the serious breach of model code of conduct and bar Himanta Biswa Sarma from further campaigning for the bye-elections in Assam.