Meghalaya State Commission for Women chairperson Phidalia Toi has been showcaused for reportedly participating in a recent poll rally of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) in the Jowai Assembly constituency. Meghalaya goes to the polls on February 27.

The West Jaintia Hills district election officer, who is also the returning officer of the Jowai constituency, served the showcause notice to the commission chairperson on February 13 but was released to the media on Tuesday.

The showcause was based on a newspaper report dated February 11 that “alleges you had participated in a rally taken out by the National People’s Party candidate, Shri Wailadmiki Shylla and was seen walking hand in hand with the said candidate during the rally in the streets of Jowai”.

The showcause to Toi, who was appointed commission chairperson in December 2021, served on February 13 pointed out, “ ... the report also alleges that your participation has given room for suspicion that you are favouring the said candidate.” The show-cause notice said the reported action is in contravention of Rule 20 of the state services conduct rules and “are prejudicial to the neutrality expected of a government employee”.

Toi has been asked to show cause within two days as to why action should not be initiated against her for “violation” of the state services rules. The show-cause notice said according to Rule 20 of the Meghalaya Services (Conduct) Rules 2019, “no government employee shall be a member of, or otherwise be associated with any political party, or with any organisation which takes part in politics, or whose activities have a political bearing, nor shall he take part in, subscribe in aid of, or assist in any other manner, any political movement or activity.”

Toi could not be reached for her reaction. A delegation from the Opposition Congress had also met the chief electoral officer on Tuesday and submitted a complaint against the “abuse of office” by Toi.

The Congress demanded her removal and the disqualification of the NPP candidate. In 2018, Shylla won the Jowai Assembly seat on an NPP ticket, defeating UDP’sMoonlight Pariat by 1,303 votes.

The NPP, which went on to form the government in 2018, has renominated Shylla for the February 27 Assembly polls from Jowai, where five candidates are in the fray.

The Congress delegation also lodged a complaint with the CEO about the “defacing” of Shillong city by the posters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah and BJP president J.P. Nadda.