Dimapur, May 24 (EMN): The Pughoboto unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has complained to the election authority of Nagaland alleged that the legislator representing 13th Pughoboto assembly constituency (AC) has ‘breached’ the election Model Code of Conduct.
A press release from the unit, signed by K Inaho Hetho, President, was received here on Thursday. The complaint, addressed to the Chief Electoral Officer of state.
The press release stated that on April 26, the Election Commission of India announced that the by-election to the Lok Sabha seat in the state of Nagaland will be held on May 28. Consequent on the announcement, the Model Code of Conduct comes into force with immediate effect and will be enforced till the completion of the by-election. The unit stated that on April 20th, the department of Information and Public Relation (DIPR) informed via local media that tree plantation week will be observed in Pughoboto subdivision from May 14 to 19th as part of the Local Area Development Programme (LADP). The said programme as stated by the unit carried out on the scheduled date in spite of the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct. It may be mentioned that, officers from various departments and all government employees under Pughoboto sub-division were also compulsorily asked to attend the program, the statement added.
The unit alleged that on the pretext of tree plantation, the sitting MLA visited almost all polling stations in Pughoboto Assembly Constituency, and went to the extent of house to house visitation appealing for votes. Pogramme were organised in each polling station under the 13th Pughoboto A/C whereby, the platform was ‘exploited’ by the sitting MLA to ‘fire tirade of accusations against PDA government,’ it alleged. During such program he accused PDA government as ‘Hindutva.’ The MLA, as stated by the unit, appealed to the voters to uphold the principle of true a Christian by voting for NPF candidate in the forthcoming Lok Sabha by-election so as to safeguard Christianity from the onslaught of Hind.
‘Seeking votes of communal lines is a clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct and punishable under section 153A of the Indian Panel Code,’ the press release stated. Executing government sponsored schemes like LAPD during the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct is a serious offence and clear violation of the ECI’s order on Code of Conduct’s-Do’s and Don’ts, it added.
The unit stated that in these circumstances appealed authority in concerned to take a fit action against the violator as per the law.
