The Election Commission on Monday registered an FIR against Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi for violating poll conduct by holding a press conference on voting day.
The Election Commission on Monday registered an FIR against Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi for violating poll conduct by holding a press conference on voting day. “Holding press conference within 46 hrs of closure of polls is violation which may result into action being taken,” said an EC official during a press conference after the end of the second phase of polling in Assam.
Earlier, what looked like a deliberate attempt to defy the EC, Mr Gogoi addressed the press conference despite the directive of the commission for not holding it.
The representative of the commission, who was present in Hotel Ambrish to convey the directive of the commission, told reporters, “The commission has asked the chief minister not to hold press conference as election code of conduct is effective on polling day today.”
Mr Gogoi, who decided to go ahead with his press conference, dared the commission to take action against him if he was violating the rule.
“Why can’t they give me in writing under what provision they have stopped me from addressing the press conference I have been told verbally only,” Mr Gogoi said, adding, “If I am violating the law, let the Election Commission arrest me. I am also a lawyer. They can’t stop me from keeping my view.”
Mr Gogoi told reporters, “If some one is making wild allegations against me, I have every right to clarify it. Himanta Biswa Sarma said that I was making false allegations and referring wrongly to his speech. I want to clarify that I have the clipping of the Assam Talks news channel wherein Mr Sarma said in a public meeting that the BJP would plead for making the cut-off year for identification and detection of foreigners to 1951 from existing 1971 if voted to power.”
Mr Gogoi accused the EC of being biased in favour of the BJP. Visibly upset, Mr Gogoi said that the commission was targeting the Congress candidates only. “They have confined one of our ex-ministers Gautam Bora inside the house whereas they allowed BJP leader Sarma to hold a motorcycle rally even after the end of electioneering in the state,” Mr Gogoi said.
Meanwhile the commission is contemplating to take stringent action against Assam chief minister for defying its specific directive not to address the press conference on polling day.
