FIR against Assam CM, newspapers over BJP ad

Voters wait in queue to cast their ballots during Phase 1 of Assam’s legislative election in Koliabor on March 27. Pic/AFP

The Congress has filed a police complaint against Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, BJP chief JP Nadda, state president Ranjeet Kumar Dass and eight leading newspapers for "camouflaging an advertisement as news" predicting the party's victory in all the seats in Upper Assam that went to polls in the first phase on March 27.

The FIR was lodged with Dispur police station on Sunday night for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), provisions, APCC Legal Department Chairman Niran Borah said. "In a pre-planned conspiracy to deceive voters in the second and third phases, CM, BJP national president, state chief and other members of the party have knowingly issued ads camouflaged as headlines on front pages of various newspapers claiming that the BJP will win all the constituencies of Upper Assam," Borah said.

The advertisements are in clear violation of Section 126A of the Representation of People Act, 1951, which is punishable by two years of imprisonment and fine", he said.

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No. of newspapers against whom FIR has been filed

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