By TC News Desk
Agartala: February 16. The office of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Tripura has issued show cause notices to BJP and Congress for allegedly violating model code of conduct and sought for an explanation before February 17.
In a letter to Congress, CEO Kiran Gitte said the General Elections to the Legislative Assembly of Tripura was announced by the Commission on 18 January and the provisions of Model Code of Conduct was imposed from that date.
“Whereas, the Commission has fixed hours of poll from 0700hrs to 1600hrs on 16.02.2023 and accordingly the forty-eight hours was started from 1600hrs on 14th February. Whereas, Section 126 (1)(b) of the of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 prohibits display to the public any election matter by means of cinematograph, television or other similar apparatus in polling area during the period of forty-eight hours ending with the hour fixed for the conclusion of the poll for any election in that polling area. Further, Sub-section (3) of said Section 126 explain the “election matter” means any matter intended or calculated to influence of affect the result of an election”, the letter reads.
The CEO said that an appeal for vote in favour of INC has been tweeted from “Tripura Congress” handle at 11. 42 AM on 16. February and post a tweet, “People of Tripura spontaneously casting vote for Congress. This time Congress will come.”
“Whereas, Section 126 (2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 states that any person who contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine, or with both, Therefore, an opportunity is provided to you to take corrective action at the earliest and explain your party’s stand for the said violation. Your explanation must reach to the undersigned by 5:00 PM on 17 February “, the letter reads.
The CEO has also seek explanation from BJP for an appeal for vote in favour of BJP and tweeted “For a safe and brighter future, vote for BJP.
