By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Days after arrested GNLA chairman Champion R Sangma announced his decision to plunge into electoral politics, the state Chief Electoral Officer P Naik on Tuesday said former police officer-turned rogue can contest the February 23 elections provided his name is there in electoral rolls.
Talking to media persons here in the city on Tuesday, Naik said, “Sangma is yet to be convicted, so he can not be barred from contesting polls.”
Recently, Champion’s lawyer announced that the GNLA chairman would contest the upcoming Assembly election as an Independent candidate either from inside or outside jail.
Though, neither the GNLA chief nor his counsel is yet divulge the name of the constituency from which he plans to contest in the assembly elections, it is believed that he would prefer to choose Songsak assembly constituency in East Garo Hills, considered to be his “heartland”.
The CEO said candidates have to have their names in the electoral roll. Champion, a former Deputy Superintendent of Police who had co-founded the GNLA in 2010, was arrested on July 30 last year from the border area of Umkrem Pyrdiwah, after he was pushed back by Bangladesh authorities.
The GNLA chief has been booked in nine cases — four in Tura, two in Williamnagar and one in Mendipathar and two in Nongstoin. When asked about the complaints filed against some candidates for violating mobel code of conduct, the official said the complaints were being inquired by the Deputy Commissioner.
With regards to the status of the report filed by Deputy Commissioner against NCP candidate Sanbor Shullai for allegedly violating the code of conduct, Naik said that the report has been forwarded to the Election Commission of India. However, he said that majority of the complaints made against candidates for violating code of conduct is ‘hoax’ and the state election department is examining the matter.
The State Election department has also asked the respective Deputy Commissioners to constitute the flying squad to keep a tab on the expenditure of the candidates.