Election Commission notice to TRS chief K Chandrasekhar for using derogatory language

The Election Commission today (EC) issued a notice to Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president K Chandrasekhar Rao for allegedly violating the model code of conduct by using derogatory language against home minister P Sabita Reddy during his campaign for the July 27 byelections to 12 assembly seats in the Telangana region.

"He (Chandrasekhar Rao) reportedly used a word 'sannasi' (equivalent of saying useless or spineless) with reference to the home minister during his campaign at Sircilla on July 23," state chief electoral officer IV Subba Rao told reporters in Hyderabad.

"On July 22, he reportedly told people at Vemulawada that they should take money and liquor from the candidates of other parties but vote for TRS," he said.

These two statements were found to be violative of the model code and the TRS president should reply to the notice issued to him by 11 am tomorrow, he said.

The EC on Friday last had expressed strong displeasure over a reported provocative statement made by Chandrasekhar Rao during the electioneering.

The EC had issued a notice to the TRS president following a complaint by ruling Congress over a statement in which Chandrasekhar had said that Telangana would turn into a furnace if statehood is not realised after the Sri Krishna committee submitted its report by the end of December.

"The EC was not satisfied with his explanation regarding this statement and is of the considered view that he, as a responsible political leader, should not have made such statement in public," Rao has said.

The poll panel also warned that Chandrasekhar should be more cautious in future so that no provision of model code is violated.

State information technology minister K Venkata Reddy was also served a notice by the EC for allegedly making a lot of promises to the electorate while campaigning, the officer said.

Venkata Reddy has been asked to send his explanation by 11 am tomorrow.

The notice has been sent to the minister on the basis of a complaint by the TRS and also a report from official sources monitoring the poll campaign, Rao said.

The by elections in Telangana were necessitated after 12 sitting MLAs had resigned in support of separate Telangana state.