EC serves notices to AP CM, TDP President

Hyderabad, May 27 (UNI) The Election Commission (EC) today served notices on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and 'admonished' the Opposition, TDP President and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for violating the code of conduct during a campaign for by-election, scheduled to be held in 18 Assembly and four Lok Sabha seats in the state on May 29.

Talking to newspersons here, State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) I V Subba Rao said the EC issued notices to Dr Reddy for violating the election code at a meeting organised at Khanapur village in Adilabad district on May 19.

The compound wall of a government school was demolished to facilitate the public meeting of the Chief Minister, he added.

Stating that the Chief Minister was asked to reply to the notices by tomorrow afternoon, he said the TDP leader had violated the poll code by participating in a campaign till 2315 hrs at Raghapur vilage in Mahaboob Nagar.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the State Rural Development Minister G Chinna Reddy for not following the code, he said five state ministers were served notices by the EC for violating the election code so far.

The official said the High Court had isssued an interim order, allowing the people from neighbouring revenue villages as agents in the polling booths, on a petition filed by the TDP.

However, the TDP had challenged the EC order that the agents should be the voters of the same polling booth.

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