The Assam unit of Congress has asked the State’s chief electoral officer to bar Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma from campaigning in the byelections for violating the model code of conduct.
The byelections to five Assembly constituencies – two in eastern Assam and three in the western part – are scheduled on October 30.
Also Read: Peace has come to BTR like a daughter-in-law to her marital home: Himanta
In a memorandum submitted to the Election Commission on Saturday, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhupen Kumar Borah said promises from the Chief Minister have been flying thick and fast during the Bharatiya Janata Party campaigns. Video footages were enclosed with the memorandum.
“The CM made a slew of announcements for the 40 tea gardens in Mariani constituency during a campaign. Apart from assuring ₹1-crore each for the gardens to develop labour line roads, he promised to incorporate each garden into the Jal Jeevan Mission besides announcing 10 new high schools in the gardens,” Mr. Borah said.
Also Read: BJP eyeing majority mark in Assam by-election
If that were not enough, the CM announced financial assistance to the self-help groups of women tea workers and incorporation of casual labourers in the tea gardens into the MGNREGA scheme, the State Congress chief said.
“During another campaign in Bhabanipur constituency, the CM pointed to a person and said he should be given a house under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana immediately despite the fact that he is not authorised to allot houses randomly. In Thowra constituency, he promised a medical college and two rivers,” he said.
Mr. Borah also pointed to the CM’s announcement of ₹2,000-crore worth of development projects in the constituency of any Opposition party candidate who joins BJP.
“It is thus clear from the above statements that the Chief Minister has lowered the prestige of the Indian parliamentary system, the Indian election system and the Indian Constitution. The very fact that he has given such statements as the constitutional head underlines his total lack of respect, disdain and disregard for rules or laws as per the Constitution,” the Congress said in the memorandum, hoping that the Election Commission would take necessary action for safeguarding democratic values in the country.
