MANGALDAI, March 28 - The Nodal Officer of Model Code of Conduct Cell (MCC Cell) of Mangaldai Election District has issued show-cause notices to BJP candidate Binanda Kumar Saikia and Congress candidate Dr Zoii Nath Sarma of 66-Sipajhar LAC in Darrang district for gross violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
In the show-cause notices issued separately to both the candidates on March 27 by the Nodal Officer cum Additional Deputy Commissioner Dharmananda Barua, both the candidates have been directed to submit their written replies within 24 hours.
In the notice issued to BJP candidate Binanda Kumar Saikia, it has been stated that without obtaining prior permission, temporary party offices for electioneering were set up in spite of several communications, party workers were holding public meetings, vehicles were moving with banners and posters and fresh posters and banners were found to be erected on government or public properties from where the district administration earlier had removed such banners and posters.
Both the show-cause notices were issued on the basis of photographically substantiated reports submitted by the flying squads.
Show-cause notice on similar grounds has also been issued to Congress candidate Dr Zoii Nath Sarma. The show-cause notices also informed both the candidates that failure to submit satisfactory written replies would be dealt as per provision of relevant law.
The violation of the Model Code of Conduct allegedly committed by both the candidates has widely been criticized here as Dr Zoii Nath Sarma had represented the constituency as the AGP legislator from 1985 to 2001. He was nominated as a Cabinet Minister for two terms in 1985 and 1996.
Similarly, BJP candidate Binanda Kumar Saikia had represented the same constituency for two terms in 2006 and 2011 as Congress legislator.
