Phungzathang lands in poll code soup
IMPHAL, Feb 13 : Acting on a complaint that Congress candidate in Churachand-pur Assembly Constituency, Phungza- thang Tonsing had violated the election code of conduct and was using more than the number of vehicles specified by the Election Commission of India, the Chief Electoral Officer has instructed the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Churachandpur to lodge a case against the candidate.
The CEO issued the instruction to the CJM following instructions from the Election Commission of India.
Phungzathang Tonsing is the sitting MLA of CCpur AC and is also the Minister of Irrigation and Flood Control in the SPF Government.
Disclosing this to The Sangai Express a reliable source informed that the CEO issued the instructions after complaints were lodged that Tonsing was using more than the number of vehicles as specified by the ECI as well as utilising Government vehicles for election purposes.
The complaints were lodged with the Election Commission of India along with a CD containing video clippings of the vehicles being used by the candidate, said the source.
According to the code of conduct laid down by the Election Commission of India, a candidate is allowed to utilise three vehicles for poll purposes.
No candidate is allowed to use Government vehicles for election purposes, the ECI had stipulated adding that sitting MLAs and Ministers may use their official vehicle only for going to their offices to work.
The CD shows the said candidate using Government vehicles besides a large number of vehicles in a procession, said the source.
With the Election Commission of India not taking the matter lightly, the Chief Electoral Officer has also instructed the District Election Officer of Churachandpur to serve a show cause notice on Phungzathang Tonsing and entrust the Chief Judicial Magistrate of the district to take necessary action, said the source.
Following the instruction of the Chief Electoral Officer, the District Election Officer is scheduled to serve the show cause notice on the Congress candidate tomorrow. The case will then be referred to the Court the following day, further informed the source.
Churachandpur district along with Chandel and Tamenglong districts and Jiribam sub-division of Imphal East district is scheduled to go to the polls in the third and final phase of polling slated to be held on February 23.
