The Election Commission pulled up Telangana Minister Konda Surekha on Friday for alleging that BRS Working President KT Rama Rao was involved in blackmailing actresses through activities like phone tapping. The EC deemed the minister's remarks a breach of the Model Code of Conduct and took action following a formal complaint from BRS leader Sravan Dasoju, instructing Surekha to exercise caution in her statements.
The EC said, “Now, therefore the Commission, without any prejudice to any order/notice issued or to be issued in the matter relating to MCC violations to Smt Konda Surekha, hereby strongly censures for the above-said misconduct.
"The commission also strictly warns her to remain careful in her public utterances during the currency of Model Code of Conduct,” it said, as per a report on PTI.
Surekha made the disparaging remarks against Rama Rao on April 1 during a press conference held in Warangal. The Congress government arrested several police officials in connection with the alleged incidents of phone tapping targeting opposition leaders and the destruction of specific computer systems and official data during the previous BRS government administration. This case, which created significant upheaval in the state, is presently under investigation.
Meanwhile, in Kerala, a tourist bus veered out of control and overturned, leaving one person dead and 13 others wounded, according to the police. The incident transpired as the bus was en route from Thiruvananthapuram to Udupi in neighboring Karnataka.
"The driver might have dozed off at the wheel. It was a slope and the bus went down after losing control," a police officer said, as per a report on PTI.
The police said that the man who got trapped beneath the vehicle couldn't be saved despite being rushed to a nearby hospital.
ALSO READ: Telangana LS Polls: BJP's KV Reddy Declares Rs 4,568 Cr Assets, 8 Candidates Cross Rs 100 Cr Mark