Looking at BJP's allegations against Meghalaya DGP: EC

Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat on Friday said they are yet to establish the facts on the allegations of the BJP accusing Swaraj Bir Singh, Meghalaya Director General of Police (DGP), of campaigning for Chief Minister Mukul Sangma for the February 27 assembly polls.

"The BJP has given a complaint and we are gathering the facts. Some facts are yet to reach us. We have not been able to lay our hands on anything," Rawat told journalists after reviewing the poll-preparedness of the state with senior election and government officials.

Initially, the legal cell of the National People's Party (NPP) had lodged a complaint against Singh. The NPP withdrew the complaint letter later.

"Whatever, fact that has been gathered till now was that NPP has withdrawn its complaint and BJP's complaint was that the Congress is using government officials, but so far we have not received anything on this issue but the process is on, whatever emerges the commission will take the necessary actions," Rawat said.

In a petition to the Chief Election Commissioner, the BJP on Thursday said that Singh, along with some other police officers, has been openly campaigning on behalf of the ruling Congress.

The BJP also accused Sangma, who belongs to and is contesting from Garo Hills, of the "ruse" of the revival of militancy in the area to rig elections in his constituency and demanded the deployment of Central armed police forces with police observers.

On the BJP's complaint that militancy has again raised its ugly head in the Garo Hills, Rawat said that the state police officials informed the election commission team that the charges are not serious but assured that strict vigil will be maintained to ensure free and fair polls.

"We will leave no stone unturned and the slightest aberration will be nipped in the bud," Rawat added.

--IANS

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