Model Code of Conduct violation
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The police on Thursday registered a case against Deputy Chief Minister and UDP candidate from East Shillong, Bindo M Lanong for alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
GAD Minister and Congress candidate for Pynthorumkhrah, AL Hek was also charged for the violation of the code of conduct.
Lanong was charged for holding a public meeting at Cleve Colony till 7 pm on Thursday even as time for the campaign ended at 4 pm. The police registered the case on the basis of the FIR filed by one TSR Marak.
The Deputy Chief Minister, however, cited political conspiracy as the reason behind the charges leveled against him by the police and election machinery.
“I was only holding an indoor meeting. There was no public announcement (PA) system, flag or banner. I do not think there is any violation of the Model Code of Conduct if a candidate holds an internal meeting with his supporters to discuss and finalise issues regarding the refreshment and other arrangements for
the polling day,” Lanong said while alleging that certain police and election machinery officials are acting at the behest of some political parties and candidates.
The Deputy Chief Minister also said that the police have sent security personnel to guard his official residence for reasons not known to him.
Meanwhile, in Hek’s case, official sources said that the Congress candidate did not adhere to the code of conduct as his supporters failed to maintain a distance of 200 metres on the convoy of every three vehicles as directed.
Official sources however admitted that the candidates have not been properly briefed on this front.
