GANGTOK,: Opposition SDF on Tuesday
submitted representations to Sikkim Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) D Anandan
alleging that the ruling SKM is not adhering to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC)
and sought action from the Election authorities.
SDF senior
vice president PD Rai led the delegation.
“We met
the CEO and spoke with him on various issues. The MCC started on March 16 when
the elections were announced but there are things happening here which should
not be allowed. We have placed all our issues related to MCC violations being
done by the SKM government. The DoP is still issuing back-dated memorandums and
appointment orders and we have demanded that it should be immediately stopped,”
said Rai to the media.
In its
complaint, the SDF sought removal of hoardings showing Chief Minister PS Golay,
flags and buntings from all public places across Sikkim.
“The SKM
is also flouting the rules as its MLAs continue to call the youth and
distribute memorandum and money. Another MCC violation is seen where the
Irrigation department is still issuing work orders from NC funds. We demand
that urgent and immediate action be taken to stop these cases of flouting of
rules and inform all the DEOs to take immediate action,” submitted the SDF.
In another
memorandum, the SDF also lodged its protest to the CEO over the “selective and
unnecessary issue of binding notices to the SDF party cadres”.
“These
notices are being issued selectively to our party members only by the
magistrates without judiciously applying their minds as per the law. Those
persons against whom such notices have been issued have no records of
conviction by a court of law in any offence nor are they persons with a
criminal record. This selective action and non-compliance of the law has
violated Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India,” said the SDF.
The CEO
was urged to issue necessary orders that such partisan orders are not issued.
This is entirely an undemocratic process which is being adopted, said the SDF.
Later in
the evening, the SDF emailed a complaint to the Sikkim CEO stating the SKM
public meeting at Dentam bazaar public playground scheduled on Wednesday is in
violation of Model Code of Conduct.
Chief
Minister and SKM president PS Golay is set to start his election campaign from
Dentam in West Sikkim with a mass joining programme.
The SDF
contends that the venue for the Wednesday’s SKM public meeting has not been
notified by the Election Commission as a permitted area for the meeting, and
thus a MCC violation. The question is how the administration has given the
permission or the meeting…action may be kindly taken to stop this kind of
violation, wrote SDF senior vice president PD Rai in his complaint to the CEO.
