GUWAHATI, February 25: Assam Chief Minister and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) president Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, is most likely to drop his Minister for Panchayat and rural development, Sahidul Alam Choudhury, who has been censured by the Election Commission for violating the model code of conduct for elections.Choudhury, who was pulled up by the EC on Tuesday, had allegedly violated the code of conduct by moving around in the Hailakandi Lok Sabha constituency in a convoy of cars more than the stipulated three, apart from using official `C' accommodation in the government circuit house.He is also alleged to have picked up a row with the District Police Superintendent Nripendra Mohan Dutta, following which his supporters attacked the SP and damaged his car.
The EC, on receipt of complaints that Choudhury had violated the model code of conduct, sought a report from the election observer to the constituency, on the receipt of which, censured the Minister and asked the Chief Minister to take appropriate actionagainst him.
Mahanta, meanwhile has directed the Barak valley divisional commissioner to send him a report on the allegations against his Minister, while he was closeted with his cabinet colleagues for long here today to discuss the issue.
The Deputy Commissioner of Hailakandi district, meanwhile has been replaced by an order of the EC for his failure to honour a request of the election observer to file an FIR against the Minister for violating the code of conduct and initiate legal proceedings against him. Choudury, three-time MLA of the AGP from the Algapur constituency, sensing trouble, had earlier threatened to quit his Minister's post when Chief Minister Mahanta refused to accept his request to shunt out the Hailakandi SP for allegedly harassing him during the campaign.
The Minister's episode has already embarrassed Mahanta, while the state BJP and Congress units are demanding immediate removal of Choudhury from the ministry.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
