Lok Sabha Elections 2024: EC bars ex-Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao from campaigning for 48 hours over remarks on Congress

New Delhi: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief K Chandrasekhar Rao was barred from campaigning for 48 hours from 8 pm of May 1 by the Election Commission for making "objectionable and derogatory" remarks against the Congress. The EC also cited violations committed by him earlier.

The EC action came after a complaint filed by Telangana Congress Senior Vice President G Niranjan who protested against the comments made by Rao during a press conference on April 5. 

In its order, the EC said it has found that Rao has "not only violated" the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and its instructions while making the "objectionable and derogatory" comments "but has also been violating the MCC provisions during the past elections. 

It further said Rao, who is also a star campaigner, is expected to follow the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and the Commission's instructions in letter and spirit setting an example for the political leaders.

'Strongly condemning' and 'reprimanding' him for the 'misconduct', the EC said it is barring Rao from holding any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, shows and interviews, public utterances in media (electronic, print, social media) etc in connection with ongoing elections for 48 hours from 8 pm on 1 May, 2024.

The EC also noted its orders in May 2019 and November 23 against him for violation of Model Code of Conduct.

In his reply to the showcause notice issued by EC, he said the officers in charge of election in Telangana and Sircilla are not Telugu people and they hardly understand the local dialect of Telugu. The complaint is made by the Congress party by picking up some sentences from his press conference out of context. The English translation of the sentences is not correct and twisted.

Rao also claimed that in his speech, he had confined himself to criticism of policies and programmes of Congress.

However, the EC found that his remarks were violative of the Model Code of Conduct.