SEC orders case against Cong MLA

Hyderabad, Jun 24 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) today ordered filing of a case against a Congress Legislator for ''obstructing'' a public servant from discharging his duties.

Addressing a press conference here, SEC Secretary G N Rao said the Khammam District Election Authority was directed to file a case against Sujathnagar MLA R Venkata Reddy under IPC section 186 for his ''unruly behaviour'' with a returning officer on June 22.

Mr Rao said the MLA had reportedly shouted at the returning officer, insisting that the latter should accept ''B-form'' of another candidate, according to the report by General Observer J C Sharma. appointed by the SEC to oversee the process.

Partially conceding to the opposition TDP's demand, he said the SEC made it compulsory to furnish the list of polling agents at least one day before the poll to the returning officer concerned.

Earlier it was three days. The change was made to avoid giving scope for the rival candidates and anti-socials to kidnap or threaten persons included in the list for political gains.

Mr Rao said a minimum of one day was required to check antecedents of persons to be appointed as polling agents and eliminate those having criminal records.

The SEC, modifying an earlier order, stipulated that party functionaries, Ministers, MLAs, MPs who wanted to campaign for a party in general and not to a particular candidate should notify the vehilces to be used to the District Election Authority instead of Revenue Division Officer as notified earlier, he added.

UNI SM AJ VD PC1758