SHILLONG, Dec 14: Trinamool Congress (TMC) national spokesperson Saket Gokhale on Wednesday moved the High Court of Meghalaya seeking action against the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) for not filing its election expenditure report within 75 days of the Assembly elections in 2018.
In his plea, Gokhale called to attention the failure of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Meghalaya to take necessary action against the NPP for flouting the law.
In a statement, Gokhale referred to the orders of the Supreme Court of India and the subsequent rules framed by the ECI, political parties are required to file their election expenditure reports with the CEO of the state within 75 days of the assembly election or 90 days of Lok Sabha elections.
“It is not only shocking but also appalling to witness how the NPP is weakening the pillars of democracy at their whims and fancies,” the party said.
It may be mentioned that what started as a verbal duel between the two parties over allegations and counter allegations, has now turned into a legal battle with the state government filing a defamation suit against Gokhale for alleging misutilisation of fund by The Meghalayan Age and the latter filing a counter complaint with the SP of East Khasi Hills against Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong.
Govt fund cannot be diverted: Prestone
Tynsong, meanwhile, said that funds from the state budget cannot be diverted to any political parties.
The statement came from Tynsong days after the BJP questioned the party’s source of funds.
“Be it BJP or any regional party. Government funds cannot be diverted to political parties as it is not possible,” he said while terming the allegations as childish.
As far as the NPP funding is concerned, Tynsong said they were running the party with their own wisdom.