Hours after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced that a temporary campus for the proposed National Law University (NLU) could be set up at Ompora in Budgam, BJP candidate for the Budgam by-election filed a formal complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
BJP candidate Aga Mohsin lodged the complaint with the Chief Election Commissioner in New Delhi, accusing the Chief Minister of attempting to influence voters ahead of the Budgam by-poll scheduled for November 11.
The complaint pertains to Omar Abdullah’s statement made earlier in the day on the floor of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, where he announced the commencement of temporary classes for the NLU at Ompora, Budgam.
According to the complaint, the announcement — made in the Assembly and subsequently circulated widely across media and social platforms — appears intended to sway the electorate by highlighting prospective developmental benefits in the constituency.
Earlier, leader of Opposition and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma said the Chief Minister had “committed a big mistake.”
“Budgam is going to the polls on November 11. The Chief Minister holds a high office, and making such an announcement from the floor of the House amounts to a clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct and ECI guidelines. He should resign on moral grounds. We urge the Election Commission to take action,” Sharma said.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while responding to a private member’s resolution of Congress legislator Nizam ud Din Bhat , said that the National Law University in Jammu and Kashmir is expected to start functioning from April next year from rented accommodation, with Ompora in Budgam likely to serve as the temporary location.
