'Deceptive' BJP ad claiming victory in all Upper Constituencies irks Congress; complaint registered

GUWAHATI: The legal wing of the Assam Congress today wrote to the Election Commission of India (ECI) over a "misleading" advertisement in several local dailies that seemed to suggest that the BJP will win each of the 47 Seats that were on offer in the first phase of polling yesterday.

The Congress has named six prominent dailies -- 'Dainik Axom', 'Axomia Khabar', 'Niyamiya Barta', 'Axomiya Protidin', 'Amar Axom' and 'Assam Tribune' -- in its complaint and claimed that they should all be held culpable for trying to influence voters ahead of the ensuing two phases.

The Congress, in its complaint, claimed that advertisement has been published "for canvassing in favour of BlP to influence and deceive the public/voters for the remaining 2 phases of the election."

Congress spokesperson Bobbeeta Sharma, talking to InsideNE, said, "The advertisement is meant to mislead the electorate as they all will think that they have won in Upper Assam. This proves they are disingenuous and this act utterly condemnable. The Election Commission should have kept tabs on such adverts. It is clear that they have violated the advertising norms and the newspapers should also wise up

The endorsement read, "The well-wishers and the workers of the BJP are delighted" and "BJP ensures their victory in all the Constituencies of Upper Assam."

Similarly, the English News Paper "Assam Tribune" has also published the said Advertisement reflecting the BJP Symbol with the endorsement "huge enthusiasm among supporters and karyakartas of BJP" and "BJP to win all Constituencies of Upper Assam".

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Niran Borah, the chairman of the Congress' legal department, wrote in his letter to the EC, "I on behalf of our Department as well as Assam Pradesh Congress Committee request you kindly to take immediate strict action against the Bharatiya Janata Party as well as the Newspapers namely "Dainik Axom", "Axomia Khabar", "Niyamiya Barta", "Axomiya Protidin", "Amar Axom" and "Assam Tribune" for publishing an advertisement of the BJP's performance in the First Phase of Election in form of News Report for canvassing across the State of Assam to influence and deceive the public/voters for the remaining 2 (two) phases of Election which is in violation of the Election Commissions of India's Model Code of Conduct to ensure holding of the current Assembly Election in the State of Assam in a fair and impartial manner."

He further said that till the conclusion of the polling of the present election, the circulation of the said advertisement is to be stopped for publication in all "forms of electronic media, social media, etc. for holding the present election in a fair and impartial manner."

According to reports, several senior leaders of the Assam Congress are also going to give a complaint to the Election Commission's main headquarters in New Delhi on the above matter.

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