EC imposes 48-hour campaign ban on Telangana minister

The Election Commission has imposed a 48-hour campaign ban on Telangana energy minister Guntakandla Jagadish Reddy for violation of the model code of conduct.

He has also been censured for making statements threatening that all welfare schemes would be stopped for people who do not vote for the ruling TRS candidate in the upcoming Munugode bypoll.

The poll panel has termed the tone and tenor of his speech as "in the nature of intimidation of voters".


"Commission orders under Article 324 of the Constitution ... to prohibit him from holding any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, road shows and interviews ... in connection with or having an impact on ongoing by-election ... for 48 hours from 7:00 pm," an ECI order issued on Saturday said.

The Election Commission (EC) had shot off a show cause notice to Reddy on Friday for his statements , following a BJP complaint.

"The election is not between Kusukuntla Prabhakar Reddy and Rajgopal Reddy, it is the election for whether to continue the pension of Rs 2,000 or not, it is for whether to continue Rythu Bandhu or not, whether to continue free 24-hour electricity or not...." ".... If anyone is not interested in pension, he can vote for (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi, if anyone wants schemes, vote for KCR (Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao)," Reddy is alleged to have said.