In the run-up to the Telangana assembly polls, unaccounted cash worth Rs 82.2 crore and goods, including Rs 6.6 crore-worth liquor, have been seized in the state.
Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar was quoted as saying that police and income tax officers have been conducting separate search operations in the poll-bound state on different occasions since the Model Code of Conduct came into force.
With campaigning gaining momentum in the state, a number of parties are facing criticism for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct, Kumar furthered.
He informed that 418 nominations have been filed in the state so far, and since then, he added, “We have received many complaints against politicians from various parties. An inquiry has been conducted and action and sufficient advisors are being given. In serious cases, we will proceed to take action under relevant sections of the law”.
On Thursday, two cases were booked against Asaduddin Owaisi-led, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leaders for alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
Sultan Bazar Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Chetana said a complaint was filed by the election commission’s flying squad team stating that on November 15, AIMIM candidate Ahmed Balala came to file nomination while his party cadre took out a massive rally during which drone cameras were used, which is now banned.
“Two cases have been booked on AIMIM workers for flying drone cameras and violating guidelines and permission given by the Returning Officer during filing of nomination papers. One person has been held and we are investigating the matter,” she added.
Kumar said it came to the Election Commission’s notice that certain political leaders were attempting to influence the electorate in the name of caste and religion and attending caste and religion-based meetings.
“It is not permitted to make promises to particular caste or religion in the context of elections,” he noted.
Incidentally, Telangana Congress unit had desperately attempted to indulge in communal politics after it’s state president Capt. N Uttam Kumar Reddy had promised to bring ‘Jesus rule’ if the Congress were voted to power in the upcoming state assembly elections.
Recent reports on alleged cases of corruption and ‘sale of tickets’ to contest in the upcoming Telangana assembly elections by the Congress is the latest violation of model code of conduct which has surfaced and clearly hurled the Congress in a tight spot.
The single phase elections in the state are slated to be held on 7 December and the counting of votes will take place on 11 December, along with the other four states: Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Chhattisgarh. The 119-member state assembly was dissolved prematurely on 6 September on the recommendation of KC Rao-led Telangana government.
