CM denies charges of election code violation

Hyderabad, Dec 3 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today denied charges that he violated the election code of conduct during his campaign in the Karimnagar Lok Sabha constituency by promising financial benefits to the constituency, recently.

Replying to a notice by the Election Commission of India (ECI), Dr Reddy, in his reply submitted to Tapas Kumar Secretary ECI, maintained that during his speech at Mallapur of Karimnagar district he had not announced any financial grants in any form or made promises thereof or made any promises for construction of roads or drinking water facilities, as mentioned in the notice.

The Chief Minister stated that he had mentioned that ''I cannot make any promise for the road being asked for. After elections I will appeal to your MLA to represent your programmes and on demand come to me and take needy signatures.'' The Chief Minister clarified that he had not violated the model code of conduct as was stated in the notice.

Earlier, the ECI responding to a complaint had issued a notice to the Chief Minister as to why action should not be taken against him for alleged breaking of election code of conduct.

The ECI in its notice asked the Chief Minister why action should not be taken against him for promising the construction of a road in his road show at Mallapur in the Karimnagar Lok Sabha constituency.

UNI BR/JRK RL DB2012