SHILLONG, APR 5: The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) Meghalaya unit lodged a complaint against Congress minister AL Hek for allegedly violating the model code of conduct during series of election campaigns organized by the party in the city.
“Hek, currently a cabinet minister of the state has violated the model code of conduct on three occasions,” BJP Meghalaya unit president KS Lyngdoh said in a complaint to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) P Naik on Saturday.
Presenting the date, time and place of the violation, Lyngdoh pointed out that on April 1 at 8 pm at Golf Links, Hek while addressing a meeting organized by the Congress promised the allocation of the Health Insurance Scheme of the government and said it will be raised from the current Rs 1.63 lakh to Rs 2 lakh if the people re-elected the Congress nominee and sitting MP Vincent H Pala from the Shillong Parliamentary constituency.
Similarly, Hek repeated the promise at the public meetings held on April 4 at 7 pm at Laban and 9 pm at Mawprem.
“We understand this is a clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct as laid by the Commission (vide VII Instruction to Party in Power) that “(VI) from the time of elections are announced by the Commission Ministers and other authorities shall not- “(a) Announce any financial grants in any form or promises thereof,” Lyngdoh stated.
The BJP views with concern the advantage the minister is taking of his position making election promises to the public.
Lyngdoh requested the CEO to enquire into the matter and take appropriate action.- By Our Reporter
