Bhopal: Election Commission has served notice on scheduled tribe welfare minister Omkar Singh Markam for threatening government officials and making financial demands from them. The report sent to the ECI establishes that Markam met the government officers in the presence of collector Shahdol on April 20 late evening. ‘Minister stayed in the collectorate for 30-45 minutes during which several other officers who were called by the district election officer for poll preparedness meeting, were also called by the minister, one by one, in the chamber of the district election officer where the minister was sitting,’ says the report. ‘And financial demands as well as threats were also made as per the statement of the officials enquired,’ stated the report.
BJP took offence on the said meeting and Girish Dwivedi lodged a complaint against the minister and collector Lalit Dahima. Commissioner Shahdol division had conducted an inquiry and a report was sent to ECI through CEO office. ECI made a remark in its notice that the act tantamount to violation of model code of conduct which prohibits ministers of the state government summoning any officer on poll duty for any official discussion during period of elections. Markam has been given 24 hours to file his reply.