BJP man who spent Rs 2 cr on election gets notice

Bijay Sankar Bora

Tribune News Service

Guwahati, February 24

The Returning Officer of the 48-Mao (ST) Assembly constituency in Manipur has issued a show-cause notice to BJP candidate Woba Joram for purportedly mentioning during a TV interview that he had already spent Rs 2.02 crore on the present election and voters would be bribed for voting in his favour.

The notice dated February 23 was signed by Returning Officer Ng Roben Singh with a copy marked to the Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur. Joram has been asked to reply to the notice within 48 hours.

As mentioned in the notice, the interview was telecast by a New Delhi-based TV channel on February 22 at 9.06 pm.

The notice mentioned, “Whereas, the maximum prescribed limit for election expenditure in the state (Manipur) is Rs 20 lakh and any expenditure beyond the said limit will amount to corrupt practices under Section 123(6) of the Representation of People Act, 1951.”

It further said, “And whereas, influencing or inducing a person to exercise any electoral right by offering, or agrees to give, of offers or attempts to procure, a gratification shall be deemed to give a gratification, which is an offence of bribery.”