<p class="title">The Election Commission has issued notices to Congress MP Vincent H Pala and a Hills State Peoples Democratic Party (HSPDP) candidate for laying a foundation stone of a hostel allegedly in violation of model code of conduct (MCC), officials said on Friday.</p>.<p class="title">Both Pala, Lok Sabha member from Shillong, and D Jyndiang, HSPDP nominee in West Khasi Hills district, had attended a foundation stone-laying function of Hostel Umyiap District of a Church at Tiehsaw village in West Khasi Hills as guests last week.</p>.<p class="title"><span>Chief Electoral Officer F K Kharkongor said the Nongstoin returning officer P D Sangma had issued notices to the two persons in connection with the programme with a direction that their replies be submitted within five days.</span></p>.<p class="title"><span> He said the department is waiting for their replies to ascertain the actual position and the same will be forwarded to the Election Commission for necessary action.</span></p>.<p class="title"><span> Pala on the other hand defended his position and said, I do not think I violated the MCC. I attended the program of the Church as an invited guest. He said he will reply to the show cause is consultation with his lawyers.</span></p>.<p class="title"><span> The regional party HSPDP candidate from Nongstoin constituency also denied any violation of the MCC. He told reporters on Thursday at Nongstoin that he attended the church program as a common man and not as a politician and there was no announcement of any scheme there.</span></p>
<p class="title">The Election Commission has issued notices to Congress MP Vincent H Pala and a Hills State Peoples Democratic Party (HSPDP) candidate for laying a foundation stone of a hostel allegedly in violation of model code of conduct (MCC), officials said on Friday.</p>.<p class="title">Both Pala, Lok Sabha member from Shillong, and D Jyndiang, HSPDP nominee in West Khasi Hills district, had attended a foundation stone-laying function of Hostel Umyiap District of a Church at Tiehsaw village in West Khasi Hills as guests last week.</p>.<p class="title"><span>Chief Electoral Officer F K Kharkongor said the Nongstoin returning officer P D Sangma had issued notices to the two persons in connection with the programme with a direction that their replies be submitted within five days.</span></p>.<p class="title"><span> He said the department is waiting for their replies to ascertain the actual position and the same will be forwarded to the Election Commission for necessary action.</span></p>.<p class="title"><span> Pala on the other hand defended his position and said, I do not think I violated the MCC. I attended the program of the Church as an invited guest. He said he will reply to the show cause is consultation with his lawyers.</span></p>.<p class="title"><span> The regional party HSPDP candidate from Nongstoin constituency also denied any violation of the MCC. He told reporters on Thursday at Nongstoin that he attended the church program as a common man and not as a politician and there was no announcement of any scheme there.</span></p>