Election authority issues show cause notice to Cong candidate

Shillong, Jan 25 (UNI) Election authorities in Meghalaya today issued a show-cause notice to sitting Congress MLA and candidate Samuel Sangma for 'misusing' an ambulance during his poll campaign in the state.

Mr Sangma 'violated' the model code of conduct for ferrying his poll supporters in the ambulance and refusing to hand it over. The ambulance was procured through the Special Rural Works Programme (SRWP) scheme in view of the assembly polls.

A single-phase election to the 60-member Assembly will be held on March 3. Counting will be held on March 7.

The Congress MLA, who is seeking re-election for the second time from Dalu in West Garo Hills district, violated the model code of conduct by using the ambulance, purchased from Central scheme, as his own, District Magistrate EP Kharbih told UNI over the phone from Tura today.

To make matters worse, Mr Kharbih said, the sitting MLA was also trying to mislead electors by having inscribed the words ''Donated'' on the ambulance.

Normally, an ambulance purchased under SRWP or any other Central scheme is supposed to be handed over to a hospital management society for public use, he said.

''SRWP funds are given by the government for public use and no MLA can claim to have donated it spending money from his pocket,'' the DM stated.

UNI RRK PL RN1538