KCR’s ‘violation’ of model code warrants EC advice

HYDERABAD: While holding Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao responsible for violating the model code of conduct during the Warangal Lok Sabha bypoll campaign, the Election Commission has “advised” him to be more careful in future. The EC, after considering the explanation given by the Chief Minister to the notice served on him, decided to limit its action to only cautioning him.

The EC had considered the complaint against the CM, that he promised to extend the Kalyan Laxmi scheme to Backward Communities in addition to SCs and STs from the next financial year, and also the CM’s reply that it was nothing new and he had already informed the Telangana state Assembly on October 6 this year that it would be considered. But on 17 November, Mr Rao had announced in an election meeting in Warangal that the Kalyana Laxmi scheme would be extended to BCs from the next financial year.

The EC stated: “The announcement so made by you violated sub para (a) and (c) of Para 7 (1) (b) of MCC, although the process of bypolls is over but your act violated the aforesaid provision.” In another instance, the EC, after considering number of complaints lodged by various political parties on alleged violation of MCC by TRS by virtue of announcements of schemes, said that it would not “take any further action as per its policy that such announcements which are broadly made for the entire state and for a particular constituency going for the poll, may not be considered as a violation of the MCC”.

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