GUWAHATI, April 2 � The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has accused the Congress of money power to influence the voters and called upon the Election Commission to ensure that the model code of conduct for the polls is strictly implemented.
Senior AGP leader and former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta alleged that the Congress party members have been violating the model code of conduct all over State and there have been instances of misusing the official machinery in some parts of the State. He said that even after declaration of the polls, the Congress party members distributed blankets and mosquito nets among the people, while, there have been instances of open distribution of cash.
Mahanta said that the Congress party members even tried to influence the police personnel at the police station level and there were instances of harassment of members of the Opposition parties by the police at the behest of the ruling party. He said that the Congress has been losing ground fast and in an attempt to win the polls by backdoor, the party has indulged in unfair and illegal methods.
Mahanta appealed to the Election Commission to ensure that the model code of conduct is strictly followed by all the political parties. �The Election Commission should not be turned into a toothless tiger and allow the Congress to indulge in rampant violation of the code of conduct,� he added.
On the electoral prospects of the AGP, Mahanta said that the regional party is gaining ground very fast and members of Congress and other political parties are joining the AGP all over the State every day. He asserted that the AGP would become the single largest party to head the next Government in the State. Mahanta further said that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has become isolated in his own party and is addressing election meetings only with his family members.
