EC issues showcause notice to BJP candidate caught in sting
Source: The Sangai Express / India Today

Imphal, February 23 2017: India Today's investigation exposing how money was being used to buy votes in Manipur has created a massive political storm ahead of the first phase of polling in the state on March 4.Taking congnisance of the matter, the Election Commission on Thursday issued a showcause notice to a BJP candidate over allegations of model code of conduct violation.

Citing the India Today report, the EC notice stated that it has come to the EC's notice that the candidate had "already spent Rs 1.02 crore for the present election and mentioned that the voters in his constituency will be bribed for voting in his favour during the election by paying them in cash" .

A sting operation conducted by India Today had exposed how a Manipur Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Woba Joram openly admitted how he plans to distribute money among voters in his constituency to win this election.

Joram, who contested the last assembly elections on a Trinamool Congress ticket has switched sides to join BJP to contest from the Mao constituency in Senapati district.

Reacting to the expose, Irom Sharmila's party Peoples Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) said it met the Chief Electoral Officer today to lodge a formal complaint seeking Joram's immediate disqualification.

"This person should be immediately disqualified.

He is not fit to be a leader.

If the EC is sincere and competent about following the model code of conduct then they should monitor and bring more accountability in the poll process.

We urge the EC to be more vigilant and swift," PRJA convener Erendro Leichombam told India Today.

"As a party, if any of our candidates indulge in such practices, we shall expel them.

Thus we ask all political parties to do the same if any of their members get caught trying to buy votes," he added.

However,the Manipur unit of BJP has shrugged off the charges terming it a "political conspiracy".

State BJP general secretary N Nimbus said, "We are not aware of any such thing yet.

This is a political conspiracy.

If this turns to be true then our disciplinary committee and party high command will decide what to do." In the India Today investigation, the 53-year old BJP candidate has been caught on hidden camera claiming that he has already spent RS 1.02 crore in his campaign.

A clear violation of the election guideline as the Election Commission has fixed the upper limit for each candidate in Manipur at Rs 20 lacs.

"So far I have spent 1.02 crore.

If I have 2 crore more in my hand, I would win.

I will definitely win.

Four to 5 crore will have to go.

It will cost as much.

Last time, Rs 4 crore was spent.

In 2007, it was Rs 3 crore.

It is more expensive now.

It will definitely be Rs 5 crore," Joram openly claimed on hidden camera.

When asked about the use for such huge amount of money, the BJP candidate explained that most of it goes in hiring vehicles for campaigning and distributing cash among villagers to buy vote.

"Most of the expense goes in vehicles.

We will deploy 60 cars.

Though, we have permission to use only 5 .

We have to distribute Rs 15 � 20 lacs to each village chief.

In return, they will take all the villagers in confidence and will hand out Rs 2000 � 3000 per household we will have to buy the votes," he explained.

Not just money, the BJP candidate said even liquor needs to be distributed to secure votes in these elections.

But, what if the election commission gets to know of his plans? "They won't know.

They don't visit our hill areas as much," Joram was caught stating on hidden camera with full confidence.

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