Guwahati, 19th April: The Election Commission, on April 19, took action against Tipra Motha chief Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma for a controversial Facebook post, issuing a show cause notice and directing him to remove the post immediately.
In a letter penned by the Chief Electoral Officer of Tripura, it was highlighted that Debbarma’s Facebook post violated section 126(1)(b) of The Representation of the People Act, 1951, which restricts the display or propagation of election matter through various media, including social media platforms, within 48 hours of polling.
The letter emphasized that such restrictions are equally applicable to social media handles, as statements made by leaders on public forums like Facebook can significantly influence the campaign discourse among voters.
The Election Commission found Debbarma’s post to be prima facie in violation of electoral laws, as it appealed to a specific community to vote in favor of a particular party, breaching the Model Code of Conduct.
Debbarma was instructed to remove the post immediately and provide an explanation for his actions by 2 PM on April 19. Failure to comply could result in further action for violating the Election Code of Conduct.
The restrictions under section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, prohibit public meetings or processions 48 hours prior to polling. As such, political parties and candidates are barred from holding any public events from 5:00 PM on April 17, 2024, to the conclusion of polling on April 19, 2024, for the Tripura West Parliamentary Constituency in connection with the General Election to Lok Sabha, 2024.