Election Commission probes complaint against N Chandrababu Naidu

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission is closely examining a complaint against outgoing Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu for his alleged intemperate statements and misbehaviour with the state’s chief electoral officer and the interim chief secretary, who were appointed on the EC’s orders during the model code period.

In a complaint dated April 16, the Retired IAS Officers forum of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana wrote to Governor E S L Narsimhan, saying the statements by Naidu “militates against public interest since it challenges the legitimate authority of the Election Commission of India”. The letter, with transcript of Naidu’s alleged statements, was referred to the ECI as well. A former senior bureaucrat, E A S Sarma, had also separately written on the issue to the commission.

ET has learnt that the EC had sought a transcript of Naidu’s statements, had them translated and is now closely examining them in light of the allegations of the “intimidation” of the CEO. Naidu is alleged to have made several strong statements against chief electoral officer of Andhra Pradesh Gopalkrishna Dwivedi and also got into a heated argument with him at his office, questioning the CEO’s authority.


He had also raised objections about the CEO advising against Naidu holding a review meeting with departmental official during the model code period. In the letter signed by over 30 former bureaucrats, it was observed that “the intimidating manner in which Shri Naidu spoke to the chief electoral officer is unbecoming of a public figure of his stature and standing”.