Karnataka Govt Gets EC Notice Over Model Code of Conduct Violation in Telangana

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday served notice to Karnataka Chief Secretary over advertisements of various welfare schemes and achievements in the state of Telangana over the past week.

The ECI, in the two-page order, asked the Karnataka government to immediately stop such advertisements and sought a response on it by 5 pm on Tuesday.

The Congress is the ruling government in Karnataka. The party is also contesting the elections in Telangana.

“It has been brought to the notice of the Commission by the Bharatiya Janata Party… and by Bharat Rashtra Samithi… that the Government of Karnataka has published advertisements of various welfare schemes and achievements in the State of Telangana on 24-27th November 2023 in the Hyderabad edition of several newspapers,” the ECI said.

The Commission added that they neither gave approvals for it nor any such application from the State of Karnataka is found pending for decision.

“The said act of giving advertisements highlighting the welfare schemes and achievements of Government by the Government of Karnataka in newspapers having circulations in poll going State of Telangana is in gross violation of the Commission’s… directions. The Commission has taken a serious view of the said violative act by the government of Karnataka,” the ECI said.

The poll body has asked the Chief Secretary to explain the circumstances which led to the violation of the Commission’s MCC instructions on the part of the Government.

“Further publication of any such advertisements by the Government of Karnataka in the State of Telangana shall be stopped forthwith with immediate effect till necessary approvals are taken by the Government from the Commission as required by the instructions on MCC…,” it added.

The poll body also asked the Chief Secretary to explain why disciplinary action is not directed against the Secretary-in-charge of the Department of Information and Public Relations for violations of procedure.

Telangana is going for polls on November 30 and counting of the votes will be done on December 3.