New Delhi (28.11.2011): For violating model code of conduct in Telangana by issuing advertisements on its welfare schemes and achievements in several newspapers published from Hyderabad when the election process is on, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has served a notice on the Karnataka Government seeking explanation. The ECI asked that why disciplinary action should not be initiated and directed it to stop such advertisements with immediate effect.

In a letter addressed to the Karnataka Chief Secretary and a copy marked to Chief Electoral Officers of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Principal Secretary in the ECI Avinash Kumar stated that it was brought to the ECI’s notice by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) on November 25 and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on November 27 that the Karnataka Government had been publishing advertisements in several newspapers in Telangana from November 24.

The ECI examined its records and found that no approval was granted by it as required and any such application from Karnataka was also not found pending before it for a decision. The act of issuing advertisements highlighting the welfare schemes and achievements of the Karnataka Government in newspapers having circulation in poll-going Telangana is in gross violation of the ECI’s directions.

The ECI asked the Karnataka CS to explain the circumstances which led to the violation of the model code of conduct and directed him to send the explanation by 5 pm on November 28.