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A.P. Minister in trouble as SEC seeks report

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Minister for Animal Husbandry, Gollapalli Surya Rao, faces trouble as the State Election Commission (SEC) has directed the East Godavari Collector to enquire into reports that he has paid money to women who have offered him "harathi" in Tuni as part of his municipal poll campaign.

The SEC Secretary Debabrata Kantha told reporters here on Tuesday that the Collector had been asked to submit a report within 24 hours. "The Collector has been asked to probe in what context the Minister has offered money. If it comes under the model code of conduct, we are not going to spare him."

This is the second such incident in the last one week. Last week, the Kurnool Collector was asked to submit a report after the former Mayor Bangi Anantaiah was seen distributing money to women, who had participated in a dharna. Subsequently, the local police had filed a criminal case against him.

In another significant move, the SEC directed that where there was only one member belonging to the category to which the office of Chairperson was reserved, he or she could file the nomination paper. This would be treated as a valid nomination, without a proposer or a seconder, and the candidate would be declared elected whether or not there was quorum.

The commission will allow the print and electronic media to cover the election of Mayor and Chairperson on September 30. The local cable television networks will be permitted to telecast live proceedings. With regard to disobeying party whip, the SEC asked the person who issued the whip to give a written report to the presiding officer within three days from the date of the election.

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