Election Commission notice to Karnataka for placing ads in poll-bound Telangana

mangaloretoday.com

Telangana, Nov 27, 2023: The Election Commission of India on Monday sent a notice to the Karnataka government for advertising its achievements on newspapers in Telangana. The poll body has sought a reply to its notice by 5 pm on November 28.

 

The Commission said the issue was brought to their notice by th BJP and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). It added that such advertisements amount to violations of the Model Code of Conduct.

The ECI asked the Karnataka government to explain the circumstances which led to the violation of the Model Code of Conduct and to stop any such adverstisments with immediate effect. It also cited its instruction from October where it said non-poll going states must obtain neccessary approvals from the Commission to publish advertisments in newspapers of circulated in poll-bound states.

The poll body also asked why disciplinary action was not taken against the Secretary-in-charge of the Department of Information and Public Relations in Karnataka for violating the procedure as required under the Model Code of Conduct.

Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had withdrawn the permission it gave to the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government in Telangana regarding disbursements of financial aid to farmers for growing their rabi crops under the Rythu Bandhu scheme. The poll body had said a state minister violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by making a public statement on the initiative.

The Commission’s decision came after the Congress made a request to impose restrictions on the BRS so it does not mention the disbursement of Rythu Bandhu amount in their poll campaign.

The election for the 119-member Telangana Legislative Assembly will take place on November 30 with a fierce three-party contest between the BRS, the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Courtesy: India Today