EC Bans Former Telangana CM KCR From Campaigning For 48 Hours Over 'Derogatory Remark'

Lok Sabha Elections: The EC banned former Telangana CM and BRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao from campaigning for 48 hours.

Former Telangana Chief Minister KCR. ( Image Source :PTI )

Lok Sabha Elections: The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday banned former Telangana Chief Minister and BRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao from campaigning for 48 hours for "derogatory and objectionable statements" against Congress.

#LokSabhaElections2024 | Election Commission of India bans former Telangana CM and BRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao from campaigning for 48 hours, starting 8 pm today, 1st May for making "derogatory and objectionable statements" against Congress in Sircilla. pic.twitter.com/lPPN75rhHT

— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2024

The poll body said that his remarks at a press conference Sircilla on April 5 were violative of the provisions of the model code of conduct and its advisories. The 48-hour ban of the former Telangana CM comes into force at 8 pm on Wednesday.

After Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, Rao is the second politician to be banned from campaigning for 48 hours in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

The EC said his remarks at a press conference Sircilla on April 5 were violative of the provisions of the model code of conduct and its advisories.

The English transcript of his statement provided by the EC in its order shows he used invectives against the Congress which rules Telangana.

After Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, Rao is the second politician to be banned from campaigning for 48 hours in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

In his reply to a show-cause notice issued by the poll authority, Rao had claimed that his words were twisted. He also said the local poll officials could not follow the local Telugu dialect.

The order served on him reminded that Rao had violated the poll code in the past elections too. While strongly condemning him, the Commission used its constitutional powers to ban him from campaigning. A Congress leader had moved the poll panel against the BRS chief.