Case on YSR as party leader: CEO

Hyderabad, May 31 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) I V Subba Rao today said the case for alleged violation of model code of conduct was filed against Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in his capacity as the leader of a political party and not as the constitutional head.

Addressing the press here, Mr Rao said the case was registered against Dr Reddy as the leader of the Congress party.

''We don't need to seek permission from the Governor to book the case against him as the debate is on (on the issue).'' ''The Election Commission (EC) is of the view that the Chief Minister has made a very good description of a number of developmental projects, welfare schemes and programmes taken up by the government, through the electronic media which can influence the voters, a day ahead of the May 29 by-polls.'' The Saifabad police registered a case against Dr Reddy on a complaint filed by Mr Rao on a direction from EC for allegedly trying to influence the voters on the eve of the by-polls to 18 Assembly and four Lok Sabha seats.

The matter was referred to the Nampalli II Additional Chief Metropolitan Court for appropriate legal action.

To a query, the CEO said the EC was verifying the evidence available to book cases against the State BJP President Bandaru Dattatraya, Lok Satta Party President Jayaprakash Narayana and Telugu Desam Parliamentary Party (TDPP) Leader K Yerrannaidu.

Stating all arrangments had been made to count the votes with accuracy, transparency and speed, Mr Rao said police forces were also deployed at the counting centres to maintain law and order and Sec 144 would be clamped in the areas, if necessary.

UNI AP GM SLD BST2128