Assam CM makes slew of promises, Congress at EC door

GUWAHATI: The Assam PCC on Saturday moved the state chief electoral officer (CEO) against chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of violating the model code of conduct (MCC) to garner votes in the tea gardens. The Congress alleged that Sarma brazenly violated the MCC by making promises to the community in his speeches ahead of the byelection scheduled for October 30.
In its memorandum submitted before CEO Nitin Khade here, the party alleged that during a campaign meeting in Mariani, Sarma made a slew of announcements for the 40 gardens in the constituency. “He announced a package of Rs 1 crore for each garden thus promising Rs 40 crores to develop roads in the gardens. He also promised to include each garden in the Jal Jeevan Scheme for water supply. Sarma also announced 10 new high schools in the gardens. In the area where he was campaigning for the contesting candidate, he announced one school on the spot in Hatigarh,” read the memorandum to the CEO.
He further announced financial assistance for self-help women tea worker groups and declared that casual labourers in the gardens would be incorporated in the MGNREGA scheme.
Congress also cited that in another campaign in Bhabanipur, Sarma announced he would provide a PMAY house to one of the attendants at the meeting. He even asked the person responsible for the allotment to do so on an urgent basis. “The chief minister isn’t supposed to and cannot authorise allotment of any house randomly,” said Congress.
While campaigning in five meetings in Thawra constituency, Congress said, Sarma made announcements to set up a medical college in Thawra and also build two bridges over two rivers in Thawra in violation of MCC.
Assam PCC general secretary Bobbeeta Sharma said the CM has been repeatedly making unacceptable statements.
“In Thawra, Sarma also said that since the candidate, Sushanta Borgohain, joined the BJP from the Congress, it would be easier for him to start development work in his constituency and also sanction funds as he would now belong to the ruling party. This is a shocking violation of the Constitution of India,” said the Congress.
The Assam PCC demanded that the Election Commission (EC) bars Sarma from further campaigning. “If a constitutional body like EC does not take action against the CM, we have decided to move the court,” said state PCC president Bhupen Borah.