EC seeks report into ‘code violation’ by Congress MP

On Tuesday, Babla Sarkar — Trinamool Congress candidate for Ward 20 of English Bazar Municipality — had alleged that South Malda MP Chowdhury, while campaigning with the ward’s Congress candidate Nabin Das, had handed over a note of Rs 1,000 to a widow at Kothabari area.

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Malda EC observer Shyamal Chandra Mondal said: “Chowdhury has been sent a showcause notice and we have asked for a report from RO Nandini Saraswati. We will have to wait for the report before we can take any further action.”

Chowdhury, however, has maintained that he had not handed over money to anyone.

A senior State Election Commission official said: “This is an electoral offence and penal action can be taken against him if he is proved guilty… Even if Chowdhury is prima facie the offender, it needs to be seen whether the candidate accompanied him when the incident happened. In that case, the candidate may also be penalised.”