The Congress party has accused the BJP-led coalition government in Manipur of violating election model code of conduct (MCC). In this regard, the Congress lodged a complaint to the Election Commission on January 11.
With the EC’s announcement of the poll schedule for the 60-seat Manipur assembly on January 8, the election model code of conduct came into force in the state.
“However, various departments of the state government continue to issue official orders with back-date violating the model code conduct (MCC),” the Congress party alleged in its complaint to the EC.
Among others, the party alleged that the state government issued an order upgrading aided colleges to full-fledged government colleges by collecting a huge amount of money from the staff of the said colleges. The party further alleged that the BJP-led government had collected the money for utilization in the ensuing elections.
While informing about lodging complaints to the EC, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) working president, K Meghachandra said that an “agenda-less cabinet meeting” convened by the chief minister on January 7 had approved various proposals including upgradation of the aided colleges to full-fledged government colleges. On the next day, the ECI enforced the election model code of conduct while announcing the election schedule.
“However, violating the MCC, the state government issued many orders including the upgradation of the colleges and declaration of results of recruitment rallies in various departments,” the Congress leader further alleged.
“Not only this, many departments under the state government are processing files for approval to issue official orders to mint money to use in the coming election,” he said.
In the complaint, the Congress drew the attention of the EC to look seriously the “abuse of official power”, while urging the latter to verify the veracity of all office approvals and orders of the state government which were not made public (by uploading on official websites, published in newspapers or displayed on notice boards of concern offices) by January 8, 2022.
The Congress party said that the orders should be “verified by sending to the forensic lab of national repute under the supervision of the EC or any other better mechanism and to take punitive action against those in power including ministers and high-ranking officials in-charge of the finance and department of personnel and administrative heads of departments”.
