Complaint against Aruchal CM over 'poll code violation'

From a correspondent

Agartala, Jan 30: The ruling CPI-M in Tripura on Tuesday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against Aruchal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu for “violating model code of conduct by distributing material and delivering speech on religious lines”.

Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) state secretary Bijan Dhar, in a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat, said Khandu, during an election campaign for the Bharatiya Jata Party (BJP) at Machmara in Tripura on Sunday, delivered a “speech on religious lines to unite all Buddhists at the call of Prime Minister rendra Modi”.

“After the speech at a Buddhist shrine at Machmara (in Pabiachhara assembly constituency), Khandu has distributed packets of some clothing including an envelope supposedly containing money to each of the devotees assembled there,” said Dhar, also a member of the CPI-M central committee.

He even urged the Buddhist to unite and support the BJP, the party alleged.

The CPI-M leader, to support his allegation, also submitted two compact discs (CD) of the entire event of Khandu’s election campaign in Machmara, 135 km from Agartala.

Meanwhile, the BJP criticised the CPI-M for politicising Khandu’s ‘persol visit’. According to the party, the Aruchal Chief Minister visited the Buddhist shrine at Machmara at the invitation of Buddhist monks.

“Khandu did not take part in any ongoing BJP election campaign during his one-day visit to Tripura. No BJP leader in Tripura met him,” BJP spokesman Mril Kanti Deb told the media.

“This is the political bankruptcy of the Left party who dragged everything into politics,” he said.

Tripura BJP president Biplab Kumar Deb said Assam Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityath are scheduled to visit Tripura for campaigning in support of the BJP.

Polling will be held for the 60-seat Tripura Assembly on February 18. (with inputs from IANS)