New Delhi [India], January 31 (HBTV): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann should have cooperated with the Election Commission's (EC) team when it arrived to conduct a search at Kapurthala House, his official residence in Delhi.

Sarma emphasized that the EC is an independent body and urged Mann to refrain from making counter-allegations, adding that if he had concerns about the BJP, he was free to file a complaint with the poll body.

The search was initiated after a complaint regarding alleged 'cash distribution' was received on the EC's cVIGIL app.

'The Election Commission is an independent body, and action will be taken wherever a complaint is received. Bhagwant Mann is on a constitutional post; he should cooperate when the team comes for a search. He should also stay away from counter-allegations. If you think BJP has done something, then you can complain to the EC, but you should cooperate when the team comes for a search,' said Sarma.

Earlier on Thursday, the New Delhi district unit of the Election Commission of India issued a clarification amid allegations of raids being conducted at Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's Kapurthala House in the national capital.

The commission stated that the Flying Squad Team (FST) was assigned to investigate a complaint received via the 'cVIGIL' application.

(ANI)