Naidu under EC scanner for ''poll code violation''

Hyderabad, May 23 (UNI) Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu, who allegedly addressed an election meeting beyond the stipulated 2200 hrs using public address system in Mahboobnagar district on May 19, has come under the scanner of the Election Commission.

After obtaining a report from the Mahboobnagar district Collector, Chief Electoral Officer I V Subba Rao told reporters here that ''prime facie there seems to be violation of the poll code by the TDP leader''. The matter would be referred to the Election Commission for further action, he added.

The District Collector had submitted that Mr Naidu had addressed the election meeting in violation of the poll code using public address system beyond the stipulated 2200 hrs, he said.

The Police have registered a case under section 30 of the IPC against the TDP leader for holding the election meeting without obtaining permission.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Congress leaders called on Mr Rao and demanded action against Mr Naidu for using ''objectionable language'' against Ministers and ruling partymen during his campaign.

The Congress leaders also wanted the EC to take action against Telangana Rashtra Samiti president K Chandrasekar Rao in connection with alleged distribution of money for mobilising people for his public meet at Sircilla on May 21.

Referring to the EC guidelines for candidates, the CEO said the candidates should maintain high level of decency and decorum while making speeches and raising slogans. Pictoral representations should be ''sober and moderate,'' he added.

Meanwhile, a delegation of BJP leaders, led by its Legislature Party leader G Kishan Reddy, submitted a memorandum to the State Chief Electoral Officer, claiming that endowments department land had allegedly been used for Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's election campaign in Musheerabad Assembly constituency on May 18 in violation of the poll code.

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