Yesterday, the Election Commission served notices on Telangana Chief Minister KCR and IT minister KTR, seeking an explanation within 48 hours, regarding their “willful violation of the model code of conduct” in the MLC polls.
The various opposition parties, including Congress, complained against TRS party, saying that, it violated the code of conduct. Upon receiving the complaint, EC said that, it would decide the matter ex parte, if it did not receive replies.
Speaking on the issue, K. Ajaya Kumar, EC principal secretary stated in the notice, “Being the Chief Minister of Telangana, on November 28th, you organized a meeting, to invite Khammam district Congress leaders into TRS, at your official camp office and even announced that, Khammam district would be developed on par with AP state Godavari districts and Khammam district would reap the benefits, from Rajiv Sagar and Indira Sagar’s unification. All the above mentioned conduct leads to willful and intentional violation of code of conduct provisions, which interalia prohibit such meetings in your official camp office.”
On the other side, notice served on IT minister KTR states, “You have admitted some leaders into TRS party in your official chambers in Secretariat on November 27th. The above mentioned conduct on your part amounts to willful and intentional violation of the provisions of model code of conduct which interalia prohibit such meetings in your chambers at Secretariat. Commission hereby calls upon you to show cause as to why action should not be taken against you for the violation. Your written explanation should reach the Commission within 48 hours, failing which the Commission would take ex parte action in the matter without further reference to you.”
In the recent public meetings, KCR many times mentioned that, there is code of conduct and so not able to assure anything. But would surely live up to the expectations of the public, regarding the promises made.
In this gap, EC serving the notices against him and KTR, is to be observed. It should be seen, whether it would remain as the regular cornering trick of the oppositions or KCR and KTR really violated the model code of conduct.
By Phani Ch
