In a twist to the charge-sheeting of Meghalaya Social Welfare Minister Deborah Marak for allegedly using militants to intimidate voters during last year's Assembly elections, state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) P Naik today said the Election Commission did not receive any complaints in the regard.
"I do not remember receiving any such complaints during election time," Naik told reporters here.
"If at all anything had come that time, I would have immediately asked for an enquiry into the matter. As soon as somebody complaints against somebody, whether it is violation of the Model Code of Conduct or anything of that sort, we have to immediately enquire into it," he said.
Naik's reaction came in the wake of Meghalaya police charge-sheeting Social Welfare Minister Deborah Marak for allegedly using the outlawed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants to intimidate voters during the 2013 Assembly elections.
Independent candidate from Williamangar Jonathon N Sangma who had unsuccessfully contested the poll, accused her of taking the help of the militants to influence voters and winning the elections.
On being asked further, Naik said, "Here, the case is that GNLA is a banned outfit and we have to see all the angles to it, but the offences part, I will not comment. Had so and so taken their help, it has to be proved."
The CEO also said that he would wait for the court's verdict before any action is to be taken by the Election Commission.
"If the charge-sheet has already been filed obviously the Commission will wait for the court's verdict and action will be taken as per the court's verdict," Naik said.
"If you get convicted by a lower court, the question of disqualification will be there," he said.
Deborah Marak had contested the 2013 election from Williamnagar constituency under East Garo Hills District.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma had maintained that the question of dropping the cabinet minister will be made known in a day or two.
Opposition political parties asked the Chief Minister to take action against the Minister for her alleged nexus with militants while they also insisted on engaging central agencies like the CBI or NIA to probe into the matter.
