SHILLONG: The State Election department has given a clean chit to the Health Minister, AL Hek, with regard to the alleged violation of model code of conduct by him ahead of the Shella bypoll slated for October 21.
The minister had attended a programme of the health department after the model code of conduct came into force.
Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor on Wednesday said the lapse appeared to be a case of “oversight” as the DMHO in its reply to the show cause notice said that the programme was organised as part of the ongoing Ayushman Bharat.
“They said that they were not aware that the code of conduct was in force across the district and thought it was applicable only in Shella,” he said. Meanwhile, the State Election department has requested the East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner to convene a meeting of all the parties to intimate them about the code of conduct for Shella bypoll in force in the entire district and not only in Shella.
Kharkongor said that the DC has also been asked to intimate the same to the heads of all the departments of the state.
