Election Commission orders inquiry into foundation stone laying case in Jamshedpur, DC takes cognizance

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, Oct 16: A significant breach of the Model Code of Conduct has emerged in Jharkhand, prompting the Election Commission (CEC) to initiate an inquiry. The issue centres around the foundation stone-laying ceremony conducted in Chhota Govindpur under the Jugsalai Assembly constituency, which occurred after the election announcement on October 15, 2024.

The CEC responded to a complaint from BJP leader Ankit Anand, who reported that MLA Mangal Kalindi laid the foundation stone for various schemes around 4:00 PM on the same day the election was announced. Local Congress leaders were reportedly present at the event, which was live-streamed on Facebook, further raising concerns of misconduct. Anand’s complaint includes links to the Facebook Live broadcast, which he argues serves as evidence of the election code violation.

The Election Commission has directed the State Election Commission and the District Election Officer cum Deputy Commissioner to investigate the claims thoroughly. The complainant has urged officials to verify whether proper permissions were secured for the ceremony and has requested the removal of the stone plaque installed during the event.

In response to these allegations, the Commission has called for a report on the matter and instructed that the promotions related to the foundation stone-laying event be halted on social media platforms. The CEC has emphasized that if violations are confirmed, stringent actions will be taken against those responsible.

This incident has intensified political tensions in Jharkhand, with the BJP condemning the actions of Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). As of now, neither Congress nor JMM has issued an official statement regarding the allegations.