K Chandrashekar Rao barred by Election Commission from campaigning for 48 hours

The poll panel took the stringent action on the basis of a complaint filed by Congress leader G Niranjan.

Updated on: May 1, 2024, 20:48:00 IST

By HT News Desk

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The Election Commission has barred BRS president K Chandrashekar Rao from campaigning for 48 hours for violating the Model Code of Conduct. The temporary ban will start from 8 pm today.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief K Chandrashekar Rao addresses the people during his Bus Yatra as part of the election campaign, in Khammam on Monday. (ANI photo)

The poll panel took the stringent action on the basis of a complaint filed by Congress leader G Niranjan, which accused the BRS leader of making “derogatory and objectionable” remarks against the party.

"The Commission, without prejudice to any Order/Notice issued or to be issued in the matter in future relating to MCC violations to Sh. K. Chandrashekar Rao, President, BRS hereby, strongly condemns the impugned statement made by him during his press meet in Sircilla on 5 April, 2024 and reprimands Sh. K. Chandrasekar Rao for the above said misconduct," the Election Commission said in a statement.

The Commission, citing Article 324 of the Constitution, barred K Chandrashekar Rao from holding any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, shows and interviews, public utterances in media (electronic, print, social media) for 48 hours from 8 pm today.

The Election Commission said in its statement that Telangana's Chief Electoral Officer had sent a factual report over the complaint on April 9.

The poll panel found the former Telangana chief minister of comparing Congress workers dogs and calling them "latkhor".

In his reply, KCR claimed that the Congress had picked some sentences from his press conference out of context.

"The English translation of the sentences is not correct and twisted," he had said.

Also read: EC issues notice to KCR over remarks on Congress leaders

However, the Election Commission found him in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

"The Commission has carefully gone through the contents of Sh. G. Niranjan’s complaint against Sh. K. Chandrashekar Rao dated 6 April, 2024 and Sh. K. Chandrashekar Rao’s aforesaid reply dated 23” April, 2024 to the said complaint and the available records and is convinced that Sh. K Chandrashekar Rao’s alleged statements made in the Press Meet on 5 April, 2024 in Sircilla are in violation of the MCC provisions and the Commission’s instruction and advisory," it said.

The Election Commission noted that K Chandrashekar Rao had violated the code of conduct in past elections as well.

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