BJP won with money power, alleges Cong
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 08 2022: Quoting Chief Minister N Biren who reportedly stated that the recent election was won at the cost of crore and crore of rupees, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has asserted that BJP won absolute majority in the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly election through sheer money power and muscle power.

Speaking to media persons at Congress Bhavan here today, MPCC general secretary and spokesman P Saratchandra asserted that the Chief Minister's statement made at a public function recently confirmed the general suspicion that the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly was not held in a free and fair manner.

The particular video clip of the Chief Minister's statement which went viral on social media testified that BJP won 32 seats in the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly election by resorting to excessive money power and muscle power, and went on to form the Government.

BJP won with money power, alleges Cong

As fixed by the Election Commission of India, election expenditure of a candidate cannot exceed Rs 28 lakh.

If the election expenditure exceeds Rs 28 lakh, the particular candidate would be disqualified as per ECI rules, Saratchandra said.

As Chief Minister N Biren disclosed at a public function about spending crores of rupee in the election, it has been proven beyond doubt that BJP candidates spent far more than the expenditure ceiling fixed by the Election Commission of India, he said.

The same statement of the Chief Minister indicated that many of the elected MLAs can be disqualified after checking their election expenditures thoroughly, he continued.

The DGP must register an FIR for the Chief Minister had openly stated that huge amounts were spent in the recent election, the MPCC general secretary demanded.

The competent authority ought to initiate disqualification process on the charge of corruption, he said.

If the police do not take up necessary action, MPCC would consult advocates of the Supreme Court and take up necessary steps so that Ministers and MLAs who spent huge amounts in excess of the expenditure ceiling are disqualified, Saratchandra said.

Dr S Manaoton who is also a spokesman of MPCC said that it was sheer money power and muscle power, not people's mandate, which enabled BJP to form the Government in the State.

By advising MLAs to tie-up with different companies and share profits out of the projects executed by those companies in order to recuperate the money spent in election, the Chief Minister was literally asking the MLAs to work as sub-contractors instead of discharging their duties as people's representatives, Manaoton added.