SHILLONG, Jan 27: The BJP has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against the state government’s FOCUS programme and promises made by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) through its MYE card and WE card.
BJP state president Ernest Mawrie told reporters that the complaint was lodged when the officials of the ECI had visited the state recently. He said political parties should not try to woo voters by making false promises or misusing government programmes.
Contesting Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s claim that the FOCUS programme was launched in 2021, Mawrie claimed the National People’s Party, which Sangma heads, is collecting the bank account details of people now.
“It’s only now that they are going to different constituencies and asking people to submit their bank account details so that money can be deposited. If you are going to implement the programme, it should not be two months before the elections,” Mawrie said.
On MYE card and WE card, he said, “We have seen the TMC giving advertisements in all newspapers about the two programmes. The party is indirectly trying to woo people with false promises.”
He said the BJP is hopeful the ECI will take note of the complaints and do the needful.
The BJP had urged the ECI officials to ensure that the election observers visit places, not just Shillong. Mawrie said they should go to the field and take stock if there are cases of booth capturing or attempts to influence voters by luring them with money.
