ECI warns Tripura BJP candidate for calling CPIM ‘a party of murderers’

Guwahati: Acting tough on the misuse of the model code of conduct (MCC), the Election Commission of India (ECI) has warned BJP candidate Tripura East Lok Sabha constituency, Kriti Devi Debbarman, for branding the opposition CPIM ‘a party of murderers.’

The CPIM on Wednesday lodged a complaint against Debbarman with Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar in this regard.

The video footage of the speech also stated that the (BJP) candidate had made the speech against which the complaint was made, said Saju Vaheed, Returning Officer of the Tripura East Lok Sabha seat.

Based on the available evidence, it is convinced that the statement was made in violation of the MCC, he said in a statement.

Debbarman is hereby warned to abstain from making such statements in future which violates the MCC.

Otherwise, appropriate action will be taken as per the provisions of MCC the returning officer said.

Debbarman, a member of the erstwhile royal family of Tripura, is the sister of Pradyot Debbarma, the founder of the Tipra Motha.

The party joined the BJP-led government in the northeastern state last month.

Debbarman, while addressing the masses, termed CPI(M), a nationally recognised party as CPM Manush Khuner Party by maligning the CPI(M), in such a manner without any substantiation, Kriti Devi Debbarman clearly violated the MCC, CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury had said in its complaint.