Notice to Vijayshanti for poll code violation

The Election Commission today sought actor-turned MP Vijayshanti's response to charges that she had made inflammatory statements ahead of bye-elections in Andhra Pradesh's Telangana region and thus violated the model code of conduct.

The Election Commission on Friday sought actor-turned MP Vijayshanti's response to charges that she had made inflammatory statements ahead of bye-elections in Andhra Pradesh's Telangana region and thus violated the model code of conduct.

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The poll panel asked the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) MP to explain, by Sunday, why action should not be taken against her, an Election Commission statement said.

"If no reply is received within the prescribed time limit, it will be presumed that you have nothing to say and the commission will proceed to take appropriate action without making any further reference to you," it said.

Vijayshanti allegedly made the inflammatory remarks in Hyderabad June 30.

Noting they have received press clippings where she had said "chop down the foes of Telangana", the commission said the statement "amounts to inciting violence and aggravating existing differences between different communities in violation of provisions of the model code of conduct.

"No party or candidate shall indulge in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic," it added.

The panel said the model code of conduct for political parties and candidates came into operation June 21 when the bye-elections to the seats were announced. Elections will be held July 27.