EC reduces Assam BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma's campaign ban to 24 hours

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 3

The Election Commission on Saturday reduced the period of debarment from campaigning for senior BJP leader and Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma from 48 hours to 24 hours after he sent a written unconditional apology to the panel.

The poll panel in its fresh order said, “The Commission, having considered your unconditional apology and assurance/undertaking, has decided to modify its order dated April 2, 2021 and reduce the period of debarment  from election campaign from 48 hours to 24 hours to the effect that permission may be granted for holding any public meeting, public procession, public rallies, road shows, etc., by the concerned district administration authorities, where you are expected  or likely to participate.”

In an official statement by the poll panel, it is mentioned that Sarma had requested to “accept his sincere regret and assurance of abiding MCC in future. The BJP leader in his representation had also pleaded on the grounds that he himself was a candidate in the constituency, which is scheduled for polls on April 6, 2021, it said.  

Yesterday in earlier order, the EC had debarred Sarma from campaigning for next 48 hours for his alleged threatening remarks against opposition leader Hagrama Mohilary of the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF). The complaint against Sarma was lodged with the poll panel by the Congress, the BPF’s ally in Assam.

The EC in its order had said, responding to the notice sent to him by the poll panel, Sarma had denied the allegation, but the Commission “considered” the reply and “the same was not found satisfactory”.