C`garh polls: Congress candidate gets notice for code violation

Raigarh: Deputy Leader of Opposition in Chhattisgarh Assembly and Congress candidate from Patthalgaon constituency Rampukar Singh has been issued a notice for alleged violation of the model code of conduct at the time of filing of nomination. Assistant Returning Officer K P Dewangan recently issued a notice, which states that more than five persons accompanied Rampukar at the time of filing his nomination from Patthalgaon seat on October 26. According to official sources, the incident came to notice when election officials checked the newspaper photographs of Rampukar Singh along with supporters taken at the time of filing of nomination. After examining the official videography, the violation of MCC was confirmed and a notice was slapped on the Congress nominee, seeking his clarification. However, when contacted, Rampukar Singh ruled out any violation of the model code and said he was accompanied by only five persons, but some journalists had entered the room of the returning officer at the time of filing of nomination. Rampukar Singh, who is a veteran tribal leader from the region, has won Patthalgaon seat seven times in a row and has been given the ticket for the eighth time for the upcoming election. He was the Public Relations Minister during the erstwhile Ajit Jogi government.