Getting a favourable judgement from the division bench of the Andhra Pradesh high court, state election commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar on Saturday warned ward volunteers in the urban areas against taking part in electioneering in the ongoing municipal elections.
In a statement, Nimmagadda said the SEC had been receiving numerous complaints from political parties, besides media reports and from public at large about alleged illegal electioneering by ward volunteers.
He said illegal electioneering involving any ward volunteer in the urban local bodies where elections are taking place is a prohibited and punishable electoral offence in violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
“Complaints can be made to the Commission’s 24/7 call centre on the number 0866-2466877 and they will be immediately dealt with and action shall be taken duly,” he said.
The SEC also suggested that the complaints can be mailed to the Commission’s mail ID: [email protected] and to the district collectors and municipal commissioners concerened, besides helplines and call centres in the districts already functioning 24/7.
A written complaint be also lodged to deal with early & effective disposal of the complaint/electoral offence.
“All the district collectors and municipal cCommissioners are informed to take immediate necessary action,” he said,
Nimmagadda further said the ward volunteers shall not contact any beneficiary group in any illegal manner to solicit votes for a favoured contestant which is a punishable offence under Election Law.
