(Image source from: Twitter.com/BRSparty)
Election Commission issues notices to KCR:- The Election Commission of India (ECI) has sent a notice to K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), the president of Bharat Rashtra Samithi and former chief minister of Telangana. The notice was issued in response to KCR's alleged derogatory comments about Congress leaders during a press conference in Siricilla on April 5. The Commission believes that KCR violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and the Commission's advisory/instructions. KCR has been asked to provide an explanation by 11am on Thursday. If KCR fails to respond within the given time, the Election Commission will take appropriate action without further reference to him. The Commission received a complaint from G Niranjan, senior vice-president of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee, on April 6. The complaint stated that KCR made vulgar, derogatory, and objectionable comments about Congress leaders. The Commission then requested a factual report from the state chief electoral officer (CEO) on April 9.
The district election officer in Rajanna Siricilla district, Kumar, informed the Commission that the CEO's report stated that KCR had used offensive language and made threats against the Congress leaders. The report emphasized that under the model code of conduct, criticism of other political parties should be limited to their policies, past actions, and work, and leaders should avoid making comments about private matters unrelated to the public activities of other parties. Kumar mentioned that the Commission had previously warned KCR multiple times, including during the 2019 and 2023 elections. As the president of the BRS and a former chief minister of Telangana, KCR is expected to adhere to the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and the Commission's guidelines and advisory. Kumar cautioned that any unverified or unsubstantiated claims or derogatory remarks made by KCR could damage the image of the opposition party or its candidates. According to Kumar's letter, the Opposition party/leader has the potential to disrupt the fair competition and the ongoing electoral proceedings in Telangana.
