Andhra Chief Minister gets poll panel’s notice over remarks on Chandrababu Naidu

The Election Commission, on Sunday, issued a notice to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy over his alleged derogatory comments against former.

Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Chief N Chandrababu Naidu. The remarks are in violation of the Model Code of Conduct, which is in place ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

The poll body issued the notice based on a complaint filed by TDP leader Varla Ramaiah, who cited Reddy’s recent public remarks likening Naidu to an antagonist in the movie “Arundhati” and in another instance referring to the former Chief Minister as a “habitual offender”.

The complainant alleged that at a public event, Jagan Reddy stated, “These elections are not a war between Jagan and Chandrababu. These elections are and the war is between a Chandrababu who is a habitual offender, who made it a profession to deceive the public and people.”

It also quoted another speech by Reddy, where the Congress leader said Chandrababu has come out and is hankering for power after five years, like the character in the movie “Arundhati” who emerged as a ghost from a tomb.

The notice also mentions the Chief Minister’s other speeches, where he allegedly attacked the TDP chief.

The Election Commission stated that they are of the view that by making such speeches, “Jagan Mohan Reddy, the President of YSR Congress Party, has violated the instructions of the Model Code of Conduct” and asked the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister to respond within 48 hours.

The polls in Andhra Pradesh to elect Lok Sabha MPs are scheduled to be held on May 13.