Congress slams EC for reducing Sikkim CM's disqualification period

The Congress lashed out the Election Commission (EC) on Monday for reducing Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang's disqualification period by almost five years. Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi has alleged that EC's move gives out a "clear message" that whoever sings praises of the government is immunised from the law of the land. According to reports, reducing the period will enable Tamang to contest the assembly elections and if he wins, he will be able to retain his post. The Election Commission reduced Tamang's disqualification period under the electoral law on Sunday. 

Singhvi lashes out 

Lashing out at the EC's decision to reduce the disqualification period, the Singhvi alleged that to get relief,one has to sing praises of the government. He said that both Tamang and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav were found guilty in the fodder scam. He added, however, that while Tamang can contest polls, the latter is in jail and debarred from contesting any elections. 

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Tamang files for nomination polls

Day after the EC gave relief to Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, he filed his nomination for the upcoming by-polls in the state from the Poklok-Kamrang assembly constituency on Monday. Tamang had spent a year in jail from August 2017 to 2018 as he was found guilty of misappropriation of government funds in a cow distribution scheme as the Minister of Animal Husbandry in the 1990s. The verdict against him during the 1990s had barred him from contesting any elections for six years, after which he served the jail terms. In 2018, Tamang became the Chief Minister of Sikkim after the assembly polls in April last year. 

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