By-polls: Code violation detected, CEO to meet DGP

Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal will hold a meeting with Director General Of Police K Aravinda Rao on April 5 to oversee the security arrangements as also to keep in check the law and order situation in the Kadapa district where two by-elections would be held on May 8.

Kadapa being a sensitive area, the prestigious by-election fight between the Kadapa rebel leader and former Congress MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy and the Congress nominee is seen as an important issue for the Election Commission.

Both the by-elections for the Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency and Pulivendula Assembly seat were being watched eagerly as the stakes are high.

Mr Bhanwar Lal also told media persons at the state Secretariat on Saturday that that he had found a violation of Code of Conduct in the Proddatur constituency of Kadapa and informed that he would write to the Chief Election Commissioner, New Delhi.

The state government has issued a GO on March 31, appointing a Khazi in Proddatur. The Khazi would officiate during marriages of people from the Muslim community. His appointment while the Model Code of Conduct was in force was a violation, the CEO opined.

Mr Bhanwar Lal revealed that he had spoken to the district Collector of Kadapa and reviewed the situation to facilitate smooth conduct of the scheduled by-elections in Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula Assembly Constituencies respectively.

As part of this programme, he took steps for fixing video cameras to collect a firsthand account of any irregularities taking place in both the constituencies.