EC reduces campaigning ban on Himanta Sarma from 48 to 24 hrs

"The commission having considered your unconditional apology and assurance and undertaking has decided to modify it order dated April 2 and reduce the period of debarment from election campaign from 48 hours to 24 hours to the effect that permission may be granted for holding any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, road shows, by the concerned district administration authorities, where you are expected or likely to participate," the EC said in its order.

Sarma, in his representation to the EC, had requested to reduce the ban on the grounds that he is himself a candidate from Jalukbari constituency which is scheduled to go for polls on April 6.

The poll body had on Friday imposed a 48-hour campaign ban on Sarma for threatening Opposition Congress' alliance partner Bodo Peoples Front (BPF) chief Hagrama Mohilary of sending him to jail by misusing the central agency NIA.

Reacting sharply over the relaxation from the EC, Congress General Secretary and spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala termed it as "a dark day for Parliamentary democracy".

"ECI doesn’t even have the guts to sustain its own order. Deplorable that EC buckles under Modi Govt’s pressure & reverses its own order of ban on Sh. Himanta Biswa Sarma," the Congress leader tweeted adding that history will neither pardon ECI nor BJP for this sin.

Shooting a series of questions towards the poll body, Mr Surjewala asked whether this "somersault taken suo moto or on a fresh plea by BJP or Himanta Sarma?
"If yes, why did EC then not call upon the complainant, BPF & Congress?. If no, why this vexatious change of heart? Does it now give a license to issue threat with impunity?," he questioned.

Meanwhile, Sarma, is set to embark on another road show this evening. "Join us in our Road Show today evening from Sonaram field to Lal Ganesh which will cover 6 km distance in support of Sri Ramendra Narayan Kalita, our candidate from west Guwahati Constituency," the BJP leader tweeted.