Assam opposition leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta accuses Tarun Gogoi

Assam leader of the opposition and AGP leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today accused Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi of using the government machinery when the model code of conduct was in force due to the recent assembly elections in the state.      "The Tarun Gogoi government had used the government machinery in gross violation of the model code of conduct by issuing press releases through the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) on May 2," he told reporters here.      As a contestant Gogoi could not use the government machinery, but he used his power as chief minister and used the DIPR, Mahanta, a former chief minister, said.      "When the Model Code of Conduct is in force no interviews for government posts can be conducted. What was the urgency for the government to seek permission from the EC for conducting the interview of the Director of Information and Public Relations (DIPR)?" he asked.       Mahanta also accused the chief minister of using the government machinery in Jorhat and other places to address press conferences and criticise the opposition parties.     "Gogoi's criticism of the AGP of having no policy is baseless and has no substance. When AGP and BJP unite, he accuses us of not being secular. But when Congress takes away some of their MLAs for voting in favour of the Congress in the Rajya Sabha election, then there is no problem," he said.