ITANAGAR, Apr 13: The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to disqualify the candidature of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, who is contesting for the Mukto assembly constituency in Tawang district, for allegedly violating the model code of conduct (MCC) and the provisions of the Representation of People Act, 1950.
In a complaint letter to the chief election commissioner (CEC), a copy of which was made available to this daily, the AICC alleged that Khandu and his supporters used every possible means, including bribery, intimidation, undue influence and violence, to ensure that the electors voted in his (Khandu) favour.
The AICC also alleged that Khandu and his election agents indulged in “corrupt practices” by appealing to the electors on religious and linguistic lines.
“By doing so, Khandu has blatantly violated the manual on the MCC and provisions under the Representation of People Act, 1950,” claimed the AICC.
In another complaint letter, the AICC appealed to the CEC to conduct re-polling at the Hote, Tengri and Gumte polling booths under the Pakke-Kessang assembly constituency.
The AICC alleged booth capturing by the polling agents of the BJP candidate there, which it said deprived the electors from exercising their right to vote.
“Due to the conduct of booth capturing by the polling agents of the BJP candidate, the electors of Pakke-Kessang assembly constituency have been deprived of their legal right to vote, which is not at all acceptable,” the AICC said.
The party also lodged a complaint against the presiding officer at Hote, saying he closed the polling process at 3 pm, using “bad weather” as a pretext while two voters had yet to cast their votes.
The AICC also appealed for initiating strict disciplinary action against the erring presiding officers.
