The Election Commission of India has barred K Chandrashekar Rao, President of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), from engaging in any public activities for a period of 48 hours starting from 8:00 PM on May 1, 2024. This action comes in response to alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during a press meeting held in Sircilla on April 5, 2024.
The decision was made after the Election Commission received a complaint from G. Niranjan, Sr. Vice-President of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC), regarding derogatory and objectionable statements made by KCR against the Congress Party during the press meet.
#LokSabhaElections2024 | Election Commission of India bans former #Telangana CM and BRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao from campaigning for 48 hours, starting 8 pm today, 1st May for making "derogatory and objectionable statements" against Congress in Sircilla. pic.twitter.com/JjhQ7z8csq
— DD News (@DDNewslive) May 1, 2024
EC stated in its order that after reviewing the complaint and KCR’s response, the Commission found that KCR’s statements were in violation of MCC provisions and previous advisories issued to him. This isn’t the first time KCR has faced such allegations, as he had been cautioned earlier for similar infractions during past elections.
Under Article 324 of the Constitution of India, the Election Commission strongly condemned KCR’s actions and imposed a 48-hour ban on him from holding public meetings, processions, rallies, interviews, and making public utterances in any media platforms starting at 8:00 PM on May 1, 2024.
Whereas, the Commission has further noted that K Chandrashekar Rao, then President, TRS had been issued an order dated May 3, 2019 in connection with a violation of the Model Code of Conduct during a public address in Karimnagar on May 17, 2019, cautioning him to be more careful in the future. Another advisory dated November 24, 2023, was issued to K Chandrashekar Rao in connection with his speech given on October 30, 2023, at 30-Banswada AC during General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Telangana, 2023 advising him to follow the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct in letter and spirit.
