Himanta Biswa Sarma is the BJP’s poll strategist for the ongoing Assam Assembly election (File)
Guwahati:
Assam minister and senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma – who was last night given a 48-hour ban on campaigning ahead of the third and final phase of state elections – has challenged the Election Commission’s order in the Gauhati High Court.
The hearing is expected to take place in some time.
The poll body issued its order after it upheld a complaint by the Congress; the party said Mr Sarma had openly threatened to send Hagrama Mohilary – whose BPF (Bodoland People’s Front) is a member of the opposition alliance – to jail by misusing the NIA (National Investigation Agency).
The ban came into effect from last night and effectively meant Mr Sarma – who is the BJP’s main poll strategist and has been listed as a ‘star campaigner’ – could no longer campaign in this election.
On Thursday the poll body had issued a show-cause notice to Mr Sarma, to which he replied earlier on Friday. Unfortunately for him the explanation was deemed “not satisfactory”.
“… the Commission hereby strongly condemns the impugned statements made by Shri Himanta Biswa Sarma… bars him from holding any public meetings, processions, rallies, road shows, interviews and public utterances in media (electronic, print, social media, etc.) in connection with the ongoing elections for 48 hours from immediate effect,” the Election Commission said in its Friday night order.
The comments that triggered Mr Sarma’s ban were made during a speech on March 28.
He had said: “… ‘If Hagrama Mohilary does extremism… he will go to jail. This is a straight talk…Already got a lot of evidence. This case is being given to NIA (National Investigation Agency). The recovery of arms at Kokrajhar in a car, that case is being given to NIA. Nobody will be allowed to do unrest in Bodoland Territorial Region, even if he is Hagrama…”
Two days later a Congress delegation met Election Commission officials to file a formal complaint. The party said Mr Sarma’s comment amounted to an open threat of jail for Mr Mohilary.
Mr Mohilary was once an ally of the BJP, but switched to the Congress after the BJP joined hands with the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) to form Bodoland Territorial Council in December.
The election to the 126-member Assam Assembly has been spread over three phases with 77.2 per cent of the electorate exercising their franchise in 39 constituencies in the second phase on April 1. In the first phase on March 27 around 76 per cent of voters in 30 constituencies cast their vote.
The third and final phase will be held on April 6, with votes to be counted on May 2.