Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday urged the Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath to keep a watch and ensure that no political party bring false and malicious allegations against another on the eve of election day.
Gogoi, in a letter to Sampath, alleged that the BJP had published advertisements in local papers here, a day before the third and final phase of polls in Assam on April 24, levelling baseless allegations against the Congress. ”Campaigning for the third phase had ended at 5 pm on April 22 but the BJP’s advertisements appeared on April 23 which should be considered as a violation of the model code of conduct”, he added.
The Congress had sought permission from the Commission to call a press conference on April 23 to counter the allegations but was asked to address the issue through advertisements in newspapers.
”The Congress advertisement did appear on April 24 which was polling day with many people going out to vote since early morning and may have missed reading the newspapers. This was unfair for the Congress”, he said.
The Election Commission should keep a keen watch on such practice and determine whether baseless allegations against a particular party by another to influence the electorate after campaign has ended amount to violation of model code of conduct or not, Gogoi added. (PTI)