Assam Assembly polls | Congress lodges FIR against Sonowal, Nadda, 8 Assam newspapers over BJP advertisement

Guwahati The Congress has filed a police grievance against Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, BJP chief JP Nadda, state president Ranjeet Kumar Dass and eight main newspapers for “camouflaging an advertisement as news” predicting the occasion’s victory in all of the seats in Upper Assam that went to polls within the first part on March 27.

The FIR was lodged with Dispur police station on Sunday evening for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), provisions of Section 126A of the Representation of People Act, 1951 and the ECI’s directives issued on March 26, APCC Legal Department Chairman Niran Borah stated.

“This is a blatant violation of MCC, Representation of People Act, 1951 and the ECI’s relevant instructions and media policies by BJP leaders and members, who after realising that their defeat is inevitable have resorted to desperate illegal and unconstitutional methods to influence the voters across the State,” he stated.

“In a pre-planned conspiracy to deceive voters in the second and third phases, CM, BJP national president, state chief and other members of the party have knowingly issued advertisements camouflaged as headlines on front pages of various newspapers claiming that the BJP will win all the constituencies of Upper Assam,” Mr Borah stated.

Also learn: Congress urges EC to register FIRs against Nadda, Sonowal for ads predicting outcome of polls

The ads have been offered in a way to “prejudice the mind of the voters and this deliberate, malicious and malafide set of advertisements are in clear violation of Section 126A of the Representation of People Act, 1951, which is punishable by two years of imprisonment and fine”, he stated.

Moreover, the ECI’s directions, particular to Assam, had prohibited the dissemination of any type of prediction associated to ballot outcomes between 7 a.m of March 27 until 7.30 p.m of April 29, Mr Borah stated.

“The publication of large-scale advertisements by the BJP falsely predicting the outcome of the current assembly election in their favour also amounts to direct violation of the instructions,” he stated.

The APCC additional urged the police to take “prompt and necessary action” against these named within the grievance, together with the newspapers.

The State Congress had filed a grievance with the Assam Chief Electoral Officer Nitin Khade and the AICC with the Election Commission of India against the publication of the ads on Sunday urging quick motion against the BJP and the newspapers.

An official on the CEO’s workplace right here had stated on Sunday that the matter will probably be examined by the ECI.

The main English, Assamese, Hindi and Bengali newspapers which revealed the ads embrace The Assam Tribune, Asomiya Pratidin, Aamar Asom, Niyomia Barta, Asomiya Khabor, Dainik Asam, Dainik Jugasankha and Dainik Purvodaya.

An estimated 79.93% of the entire 81.09 lakh voters exercised their franchise in 47 meeting constituencies through the first part of polling in Assam on Saturday.

Elections to 39 seats will probably be held within the second part on April 1 and 40 within the third and last part on April 6.