The president of the state BJP unit was served with a show cause notice by the CEO's office in response, requiring a response by 10 am on April 8.
Digital Desk: Assam's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has moved to punish the ruling BJP for allegedly breaking the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), a charge brought up by the CPI(M).
The CPI(M) charged on Thursday that the BJP had violated the MCC by allegedly collecting personal information on the pretense of carrying out a socio-economic survey in order to increase the number of people who would be eligible for a government program.
The president of the state BJP unit was served with a show cause notice by the CEO's office in response, requiring a response by 10 am on April 8.
The CPI(M) has complained that the BJP violated the MCC by distributing application forms for a socio-economic survey while claiming to increase the number of eligible families under the 'Orunodoi' plan.
The CEO's office said that while general election pledges are acceptable, certain surveys, form distribution, and data gathering could be interpreted as voter inducements, which is against the law.
The warning, which PTI was able to get, stated that the forms that included pictures and emblems of prominent BJP campaigners seemed to go against MCC regulations.
The BJP has been asked to submit a written response; if not, suitable measures will be implemented.
Regarding the same matter, the Congress also complained to the CEO's office.
The BJP-distributed papers, with pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, guaranteed inclusion in government projects, a policy issue that goes beyond election pledges, according to the CPI(M)'s complaint.
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