The Hindu : National : EC censures Assam Minister for code violation

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EC censures Assam Minister for code violation

Sushanta Talukdar

Guwahati: The Election Commission of India has censured Assam Health Minister and ruling Congress candidate for the Jalukbari Assembly constituency, Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Congress candidate for Badarpur, Jamal Uddin Ahmed, for violating model code.

District Election Officer, Kamrup Metropolitan district, issued a show-cause to Dr. Sarma on March 25 for violating the code.

The notice was issued following complaints that his supporters had gone out of control when he went to file his nomination papers. Other violations such as alleged distribution of T-shirts and caps bearing the Congress symbol were noticed.

Denies charge

Dr. Sarma denied the charge and said his supporters had joined him on their own. But the Commission did not find the reply satisfactory and said a gathering of 4,000 to 5,000 party workers could not have joined spontaneously.

“Moreover, the reports and the supporting evidence in the form of CDs received by the Commission from the official machinery were found to substantiate the allegations,” said a release.

The Commission also censured Mr. Ahmed for holding an election meeting on the campus of an educational institution without prior permission.

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