Cong blames TRS for poll code breach

Hyderabad: Alleging that the ruling TRS had violated election code of conduct, the Congress on Saturday submitted a representation to the State Election Commission, stating that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao had announced various sops in the recent days.

The party described the announcement of the scheme, ‘Free Distribution of Clothes’ during Christmas Day Celebrations and also arranging ‘Mass Christmas Dinner’ by State government as blatant violation of election code of conduct. It also cited the announcement of ‘Kalyanalakshmi to be extended to BC community’ as a breach of code. It may be recalled that T Harish Rao announced coverage of BC under the scheme during the election campaign in Warangal.

Another recent announcement, extension of ‘Fine Rice’ scheme from schools to college hostels also violated the election code, alleged the Congress in its representation. Release of OU mess charges, training for competitive exams for SC/ST & BC candidates and also coaching for GRE and TOEFL exams to SC, ST& BC students announced by Chief Minister also amounted to violation of the code of conduct, it alleged.

Official spokespersons of the party, B Kamalakar Rao, G Niranjan and A Shyam Mohan described this as a clear case of violation of code of conduct in view of by-election to influence the voters in Warangal. According to them, these schemes were announced for wooing the voters in the by-elections.

Referring to various news reports on announcement of several welfare schemes appeared in the media in the recent times, the Congress held that it was not against the schemes, but they were announced after election code of conduct came into effect, aimed at influencing the voters.