Election Code of Conduct Violation: Election Commission bars the Telangana minister from campaigning for 48 hours
The Election Commission on Sunday barred Telangana Energy Minister G Jagadeesh Reddy from campaigning for the Munugode assembly by-poll for 48 hours after he violated the model code of conduct.
The Election Commission on Saturday issued a notice to Reddy for his speech in which he asked voters to support Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao if they want to continue with some welfare schemes or if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP do not help them.
The Election Commission had received a complaint from BJP leader Kapilvai Dilip Kumar, who alleged that Reddy had said welfare schemes would be stopped if voters did not vote for the TRS candidate.
In its order on Saturday, the Election Commission said Reddy responded to the notice and said he did not make any speech stating that all welfare schemes would be stopped if people did not vote for the TRS candidate.
He also submitted that the statement does not fall under the definition of “corrupt practices”, as mentioned in the model code of conduct.
“After examining the speech and reply submitted by Guntakandala Jagadish Reddy, the Commission is convinced that the tone and tenor of the speech … is like intimidating the voters and thus … violates the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct,” Election Commission said.
In the wake of this “violation”, the poll panel barred Reddy from making public meetings, processions, rallies, road shows, interviews and public speeches in the media in connection with the by-elections for November 3 from 7 pm on Sunday.
