Guwahati, April 14: Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly, Debabrata Saikia, has accused Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) ahead of the upcoming panchayat elections scheduled for May 2 and 7.
In a formal complaint to the State Election Commission (SEC) on Monday, Saikia alleged that the Chief Minister made announcements during the election period that could influence voters. “The CM has declared the creation of new district offices in certain Assembly constituencies. These moves can be seen as attempts to sway voters and give the ruling party an unfair edge, which goes against MCC rules,” Saikia wrote.
He further alleged that Sarma had urged independent candidates to withdraw from the race—an act that Saikia said undermines the constitutional right to freely contest elections.
Calling for strict enforcement of the MCC, Saikia asked the SEC to issue a notice to the Chief Minister and take steps to prevent further violations. He also raised concerns over alleged political bias in law enforcement and administrative actions.
“Our party workers and social media activists have been targeted by local authorities, with some told not to campaign. One of our social media workers was even arrested by Dhekiajuli Police and repeatedly summoned and intimidated,” Saikia claimed.
He urged the Commission to issue a directive ensuring neutrality from police and administrative officials. Saikia also criticized the district administration in areas like Charaideo, where he said complaints against ruling party candidates were ignored or delayed, allowing them to contest without proper scrutiny.
Saikia concluded by calling on the SEC to act decisively to preserve the integrity of the panchayat elections.
