Guwahati, 6th April: The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Assam has taken decisive action in response to allegations of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violation leveled against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by the CPI(M). On April 5, the CEO issued a show cause notice to the state BJP unit president, requiring a response by 10 am on April 8.
The CPI(M) has accused the BJP of contravening the MCC by purportedly conducting a socio-economic survey under the guise of collecting public data, allegedly with the intention of bolstering the beneficiaries under a government scheme. Specifically, the left party alleges that the distribution of application forms for this survey, coupled with promises to expand the ‘Orunodoi’ scheme, violates electoral regulations.
In response, the CEO’s office clarified that while general electoral assurances are permissible, actions such as specific surveys, form dissemination, and data collection are deemed transactional and constitute a form of elector inducement, which is strictly prohibited under the MCC.
Furthermore, the Congress has also lodged a written complaint with the CEO’s office, raising similar concerns regarding the alleged misconduct by the BJP.
The issuance of this notice underscores the electoral authorities’ commitment to upholding the integrity and fairness of the electoral process in Assam, ensuring that all political parties adhere to the prescribed regulations and maintain transparency in their campaign activities.
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