The Hindu : Front Page : Jana, Ponnala face action?

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Thursday, May 22, 2008
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Jana, Ponnala face action?

Special Correspondent

Three officials suspended; action sought against KCR

Government school headmaster, ASI, VRO suspended
TDP chief made seven promises, Congress tells CEO

HYDERABAD: After an inquiry revealed prima facie evidence that Congress candidates held campaign meetings in Government school in Mahabubnagar and Warangal districts, the authorities have suspended a headmaster, one assistant sub-inspector of police (ASI) and village revenue officer (VRO).

Also, Home Minister K. Jana Reddy, Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah and the Congress candidate for Hanamkonda Lok Sabha constituency Konda Surekha are likely to face action by the Election Commission as they have already been served with notices in connection with the Warangal meeting held in a Government school at Julywada in Warangal town. Chief Electoral Officer I. V. Subba Rao said this clearly amounted to violation of the model code.

The headmaster was punished for permitting Congress leaders to hold the election meeting in a Government school at Karukonda in Mahabubnagar and the VRO and the ASI for blinking at this irregularity. The ASI, who was supposed to stop the meeting, accompanied Rural Development Minister G. Chinna Reddy and S. Swarna Sudhakar, a Congress MLA who, however, replied to the notices served on them.

Complaint

Meanwhile, a Congress delegation, led by Government Chief Whip N. Kirankumar Reddy lodged a complaint with the CEO, seeking action against Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu for making seven promises during the election campaign at Vikarabad on Tuesday which could not be implemented and which only induced voters.

These promises included waiver of housing loans, construction of houses on 150-sq yd. plots for Rs. 1 lakh each, free supply of LPG and stoves to women, distribution of gold mangalasutrams to girls at the time of marriage, free power supply to farm sector for 12 hours a day, separate corporation for BCs with a budget of Rs. 3,000 crore and issuing loans to them at one per cent interest, besides 5 per cent reservation to minorities.

Unparliamentary words

The Congress leaders also sought action against Telangana Rashtra Samiti president K. Chandrasekhar Rao for using unparliamentary words against them during an election speech, describing them as “chavatalu, daddammalu”. The CEO said he would examine and refer the complaints to EC for scrutiny and action. He added that he would verify from the State Official Languages Commission if these words used by Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao were unparliamentary.

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