Congress Demands CM Sarma Be Barred From Campaigning For Violating MCC

Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia has demanded that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma be barred from campaigning for the October 30 by-elections for allegedly violating the model code of conduct.

In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, the Congress leader stated that there have been several instances where the chief minister has violated the EC's model code of conduct.

He said they were in "violation of model code of conduct by the constitutional head of Assam Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, who had taken oath of office to protect the Constitution and discharge his duty as per its provisions."

List of violations as stated by Saikia –

• "The Chief Minister had at a byelection campaign meeting under Bhawanipur LAC pointed to a person in the crowd and said he should be given a house and also asked that whosoever is responsible for allocation of houses in that locality to provide him with a house (copy of video enclosed) under the PMAY.

The government has a clear-cut policy for allotment of PMAY houses and the list of eligible persons are selected for allotment based on socio-economic condition and approval by the Gaon Sabha under a panchayat. The Chief Minister isn't supposed to and authorised to allot any house.

In this case the Chief Minister publicly said the person has no house and he should be given a house, going beyond existing official guidelines to identify persons who are suitable and who are not for allotment of a PMAY house.

We believe the action of the chief minister will make the people think that any one attending the Chief Minister's campaign/meeting will get a house, which is not true and clearly a violation of the model code of conduct."

• "The chief minister has also been repeatedly making a statement while campaigning that for the development of any legislative assembly constituency, the primary condition is to ensure the Member of Legislative Assembly (the MLA) belongs to the ruling political party or the ruling alliance.

During the filing of nomination by the candidate of Thowra LAC in Sivasagar, the chief minister had stated his intention to develop Thowra LAC area but added that it would not be possible if the MLA is from Opposition Party i.e. from Congress Party, a reason he had asked Sushanta Borgohain to join the Bharatiya Janata Party so that more development fund could be sanctioned.

Sushanta Borgohain who had won the last assembly election on a Congress ticket resigned to contest on a BJP ticket in the byelections.

Sir, the constitution clearly states that no persons should be deprived of any scheme. There should not be any discrimination on the basis of religion, caste, etc. All should be treated equally vis-a-vis welfare schemes of the government.

However, the Chief Minister has been openly patronising a system of governance where development will not be possible if the MLA is not from the ruling party."

• "Last but not the least, at a meeting in Bhawanipur LAC where byelection will be held due to defection of the sitting Opposition MLA to the ruling BJP, the Chief Minister has openly stated that he will give Rs 2000 crore worth of development projects if the sitting MLA joined the ruling party."

Further, while campaigning in Thowra, Saikia pointed out that CM Sarma declared that he will setup one medical college at Thowra and construction of two bridges over to rivers. Saikia said that it was in total violation the model code of conduct given by the election commission.

"It has created an impression among the public that unless they support the ruling party they will be deprived of government benefits. These act are unbecoming of a chief minister as these are not only against the model code of conduct but also goes against the Constitution," Saikia added.