SHILLONG: People’s Democratic Front (PDF) candidate from Mawkhar-Pynthorumkhrah constituency, James Ban Basaiawmoit lodged a complaint on Friday to the Returning Officer (RO) in charge of the constituency against NPP candidate P.N. Syiem and his election agents.
In the letter, he said two persons were caught distributing money on the eve of the Council elections to bribe voters inducing them to vote for the NPP at the behest of Syiem and his election agents.
Further, he said documents seized from the two persons clearly showed that money was paid for votes.
Basaiawmoit said the Rs 80, 000 was provided by Syiem for polling agents and volunteers for one polling station. With the constituency having 28 polling stations, he said the expenditure limit of Rs 5 lakh has exceeded.
In this connection, he requested the RO to take legal action against Syiem for violation of Rule 176 expenditure, 193 (1) Bribery, Rule 3 (2) under influence and Rule 194 (1) and 9(2) and Rule 195 (1) of the Assam Meghalaya Autonomous District (Constitution of District Council), Rule, 1952 (as amended).
He added that an enquiry should also be made for violation of election expenditure as per District Council Affairs (DCA) notification, dated January 31, 2019.
