EC Bans BRS Chief KCR From Campaigning For 48 Hours For Derogatory Comments Against Cong

The Election Commission of India on Wednesday banned former Telangana Chief Minister and BRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao from campaigning for 48 hours, starting at 8 pm today.

The EC said that it is banning him for making "derogatory and objectionable statements" against Congress in Sircilla. It deemed his statements during a press conference on April 5 as breaching the model code of conduct and its advisories.

According to the EC's order, the transcript of his remarks included derogatory language against the ruling Congress party in Telangana.

After Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, Rao becomes the second politician to face a 48-hour campaign ban during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

In response to a show-cause notice from the election authority, Rao contested that his words were misconstrued and cited difficulties in local officials understanding the Telugu dialect. The EC's order highlighted Rao's past violations of the electoral code.

Using its constitutional powers, the Commission condemned his actions and imposed the campaign ban. A Congress leader lodged the complaint against the BRS chief with the poll panel.