By IANS,
Ranchi : Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren Friday violated the model code of conduct while filing the nomination papers for the by-election from the Tamar assembly constituency, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Arjun Munda alleged here, adding “We will raise the issue with the Election Commission”.
Soren filed the papers at sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) office at Bundu. He was accompanied, among others, by central minister Subodh Kant Sahay and state ministers.
He reached Bundu in a vehicle without number plates.
Jharkhand ministers who accompanied Soren were in official vehicles and slogans were shouted outside the SDM office in Soren’s favour.
Under the model of code of conduct, no slogans should be shouted and no official vehicle should be used by the candidate and people accompanying the candidate.
“We will raise the issue with the Election Commission. Official vehicles should not be used by ministers while filing nomination papers,” Munda said.
“As a chief minister, Soren should not have used vehicle without number plate,” said former chief minister and senior BJP leader.
The Tamar by-election is scheduled for Dec 29.
Soren has to get elected to the state assembly before February 27. He took oath as chief minister August 27.
As per the constitution, any person can become chief minister or minister but he/she must get elected to the state legislature within six months.
The state United Progressive Alliance has announced support to Soren as the joint candidate of the alliance.
Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha is a member of the alliance led by the Congress.
Tamar assembly seat fell vacant after Janata Dal-United legislator and former Jharkhand minister Ramesh Singh Munda was killed by Maoist guerrillas a few months ago.
The state National Democratic Alliance has decided to field Basundhara Munda, the late Ramesh Singh Munda’s widow, in the by-election.