Warangal: EC asks Tel CS' reply on charge of poll code breach

The Election Commission has sought a clarification from the Telangana Chief Secretary over Congress' allegation that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and his ministers have violated the model code of conduct, in force for the November 21 bypoll to Warangal (SC) Lok Sabha seat.
"The ECI has considered the report of CEO for the violation and called for the clarification of the Chief Secretary, Government of Telangana by today," a press note issued by the Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal said here.
The separate complaints regarding the alleged flouting of the poll code were made by the state unit Congress Spokesperson B Kamalaka Rao and party General Secretary T Kumar Rao.

The complaint said, "The CM and ministers violated the model code of conduct by announcing celebration of Christmas as the state festival, (by) extending distribution of fine rice to the college hostels, release of arrears of mess charges to Osmania University and providing coaching to SC, ST and BC students for competitive exams, GRE and TOFEL exams."
The complainants also alleged that the state ministers have breached the model code by misusing power among other things.
The CEO's office has sent separate reports on the complaints to the Election Commission, according to a release issued today.

Congress MLC P Sudhakar Reddy, BJP MLA K Lakshman, Congress MP G Kukhender Reddy, TDP Leader Reventh Reddy, TRS MLC Karne Prabhakar have also complained about the violation of the model code by their rivals.

As per Prabhakar's complaint, the MLAs and party leaders of the TDP, Congress and BJP have violated the poll code.
The Warangal district election officer has been asked to file a report on the complaint.
The by-election is necessitated by the resignation of sitting TRS MP K Srihari after be became Deputy Chief Minister of the state.
The polling will be held on November 21 from 7 AM to 5 PM, campaigning for which is ending tomorrow evening.
The numbers of male and female voters are 7,57,231 and 7,52,293, respectively.
The authorities have so far seized cash worth Rs 1.79 crore, a Maruti car and other items ahead of the poll.