The State election authority has asked the NPP to submit a reply on the video being circulated in the social media regarding distribution of gifts by the party candidate from West Shillong, Mohendro Rapsang.
In a letter to the general secretary of NPP, the Returning Officer of Shillong West today said that “distribution of freebies to prospective voters” in the constituency is a violation of the model code of conduct.
The Returning Officer also directed the NPP general secretary to show cause and submit his reply latest by 4pm tomorrow.
It may be mentioned that Purity Phawa, a resident of Lumdiengjri which falls under West Shillong constituency, has refused to accept gifts sent by two candidates and has returned the gifts to the candidates.
According to her, the gifts were brought by the agents of NPP candidate Mohindro Rapsang and UDP contestant Paul Lyngdoh on January 28 and 30 respectively.
Stating that she was not at home when the gifts arrived, Phawa said when she returned her daughter told that Rapsang had sent her a pressure cooker while Lyngdoh gifted two sets of imported bowls.
“I called up the agents who had delivered the freebies and they confirmed that the candidates had sent the gifts. The UDP candidate sent a calendar too,” she said.
Phawa claimed that she returned the gifts yesterday and even told candidates’ agents in person that she wants to elect legislators and not distributors.
She also said that she would take up with the district election officials to formally inform them of the ‘freebies’ being distributed by the candidates in her constituency.
It may be mentioned that Rapsang has been reportedly distributing pressure cookers to the voters publicly in the run up to the Assembly elections.
He also claimed that the pressure cookers were bought from his MLA Scheme.
