Office of profit haunts NE

Guwahati, Jun 28 (UNI) The 'office of profit' issue has returned to haunt the MLAs of the North East who happen to be the main protagonists of the entire episode where Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh recorded the maximum violation.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphu Rio is having a tough time along with 24 other MLAs of Arunachal Pradesh.

Of the total 230 MLAs who hit the list of the Election Commission for holding 'offices of profit', 75 are from North East, a staggering 32.60 per cent. Asom is, however, excluded from the list as it has a new assembly.

Out of these 75 MLA's, 25 each are from Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh. Sikkim accounts for 17 MLAs, Manipur for six and Nagaland for two.

Arunachal Pradesh BJP MLA Kameng Doley last night alleged that 24 MLAs of the state had violated the law and their names had been sent to the Election Commission.

Sikkim has more than 50 per cent of its MLAs in the list, which is by far the highest ratio in the country. However, Meghalaya and Asom are not in the hit list.

According to an official report, the Election Commission had sent notices to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio asking him to reply by Friday after opposition leader I Imkom and 14 other leaders complained that Rio was allegedly holding the post of Chairman of Nagaland Bamboo Mission and State Sports Council.

Of the Lok Sabha members across the country whose names appear on a separate EC list, Arunachal Pradesh MP Kiren Rijiju also finds a place.

UNI MT PP PL SS1207