NPCC has issued a rejoinder to the news item appearing in local dailies on June 29 under the headline, “CEO clarifies on NPCC allegation”.
A press release from NPCC working president, Khriedi Theünuo reminded that no amount of diverting the issue in the clarification given by the present CEO (Officiating), Nagaland, was going to undo their misdeed as the sequence of the correspondence between the NPCC and the office of the CEO Nagaland, will speak on what related issue the impartial “Enquiry Committee” has been demanded.
The release also stated that NPCC has written to the chief election commissioner of India on April 5, 2019 to clarify whether the expenditures incurred for printing of polling agent forms by the INC candidate attracts the provisions of election law for candidate’s expenditures in the ensuing 2019 election to the house of people from the Nagaland parliamentary constituency.
That in the present election to the house of people from Nagaland parliamentary constituency, the NPCC stated that due to the shortage of polling agent forms in the office of returning officer, Nagaland, the Indian National Congress (INC) candidate from Nagaland was made to print the polling agent forms from private printing press at his own expense and meet the requirements of the Election Commission of India.
The issue of not having sufficient polling agent forms at the disposal of returning officer, Nagaland was also brought to the notice of the CEO, Nagaland and returning officer, Nagaland in the “CEOs checklist for meeting with Political Parties” on March 14, 2019 at Hotel Japfu, Kohima, Nagaland, stated the release.
NPCC further stated that, the office of the CEO, Nagaland, has given reply to the NPCC letter on April 5, 2019 stating that “I am directed to clarify that this office issued 3500 Nos plus of polling agent Forms to party candidate agent on 26.03.2019. Further, I am to clarify that the expenditure incurred by the candidate or political party on printing of Forms for appointment of polling agent, if any, shall be included in the account of election expenditure.”
NPCC clarified that as per the receipt, the Indian National Congress (INC) candidate received 3500 nos of polling agent forms and not 4901 as stated by the present CEO (officiating) Nagaland.
NPCC stated that it will uphold the assurance given by the Governor, Nagaland, to take strict action on erring officials of the department in this matter.