Election code to keep off Ministers from ''Rachabanda'' in AP

Hyderabad, Feb 10 (PTI) The Andhra Pradesh Ministersmight not be able to take part in the state government�s�Rachabanda� (village junction) programme in districts whereelections are scheduled to be held for the vacant seats in thestate legislative council.

The Election Commission today decided to allowcontinuation of the programme in the districts subject to thecondition that the government would comply with the provisionsof the model code.

The EC conveyed its decision to the state Chief ElectoralOfficer here.

As per the conditions in the model code, the Ministers,whether Central or state, would not undertake any officialvisit in any district in which the elections are scheduled tobe held on March 13.

"If for any special reason, an official visit becomesunavoidable, they shall return to their headquarters oncompletion of their official tours before going on any privatetour to the constituency," according to the model code.

The elections will be held for three each of theGraduates� and Teachers� constituencies in the districts ofSrikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Prakasam, Nellore,Chittoor, Kadapa, Anantapur, Kurnool, Mababubnagar, Rangareddyand Hyderabad.

Consequent to the EC�s directive, the Chief Minister�sscheduled visit to Kadapa and other districts tomorrow havebeen cancelled, official sources said.

Meanwhile, TRS MP and Telugu actress of yesteryear Vijaya Shanti complained to the state Human Rights Commission thatpolicemen, who were providing security for the �Rachabanda�programme, brutally attacked several women in some villages inMedak district.

Claiming that many women suffered injuries, she demandedstern action against the policemen responsible for thealleged incident.