EC issues notice to Shira

The Election Commission has issued a notice to Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma's wife, Dikkanchi D Shira, for her alleged derogatory remarks against BJP during her campaign for the May 16 Tura by-poll.
The state's Chief Electoral Officer F R Kharkongor said, "The returning officer yesterday sought a clarification from the Congress candidate with regards to her comments which was reported in the media."
Shira had allegedly said the NPP and the BJP had an agreement which would compel the NPP to work on BJP agenda. She went on to allege that "BJP cannot protect minorities."
According to the CEO, the notice was issued to the Congress candidate taking suo moto cognisance of the media reports.

The Congress candidate has denied the charge stating that since the speech was made in a local Garo dialect the "translation was misleading".
Shira is contesting on a Congress ticket and is pitted against National People's Party President and former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma's youngest son, Conrad K Sangma.
The by-poll was necessitated following the demise of P A Sangma earlier this year.