SHILLONG, Oct 18: A show-cause notice has been issued to NPP candidate for the Rajabala bypoll, Abdus Saleh, by the Returning Officer for allegedly violating the model code of conduct.
A meeting was held on October 13 without prior permission from the competent authority and it was held beyond the permissible time limit and without abiding by COVID protocols, according to the returning officer.
In response, Abdus Saleh said that there was no such meeting as alleged, while reasoning that it was but an interaction with party workers to formulate the future course of action regarding campaigning for the election. He also pointed out that the meeting was held within the provisions of the COVID protocols, which is why, he added, there was no need to seek prior permission from the competent authority.
Apart from Rajabala, no other cases of violation of model code of conduct have been reported so far, whether from Mawphlang or Mawryngkneng constituencies, where by-elections are scheduled to take place on October 30.
The campaigning for the bypolls has started to gain momentum as top leaders of political parties, whose candidates are contesting, are now coming out in support of their colleague through campaigns. The Election Department is also trying to devise different innovations to hold the elections smoothly and free from glitches.
Chief Electoral Officer, FR Kharkongor, on Monday informed that a new initiative of Form 12 D postal ballots for senior citizens who are more than 80 years of age, persons with disabilities and COVID-infected patients, is being rolled out in the ensuing elections.
With the help of Form 12 D postal ballots, they can vote from home through postal ballots, provided they have opted to.
As of now, the department has received as many as 300 applications — 132 from Mawryngkneng, 114 from Mawphlang and 54 from Rajabala.
It was also informed that a health worker has been allotted to each polling station as COVID-19 nodal officers.