The Election Commission (EC) has issued a notice to the Congress-led Karnataka government over newspaper advertisements of its various welfare schemes and achievements in the poll-bound Telangana, officials said on Tuesday.

The poll panel said this was a violation of the model code of conduct (MCC), which is being enforced in Telangana since the announcement of the assembly polls.

Advertisement

In its notice issued to the Karnataka chief secretary Monday night, the Election Commission (EC) said it was brought to its notice by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vide their representation dated November 27 and by THE Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) vide their representation dated November 25 that the Karnataka government has published advertisements of various welfare schemes and achievements in Telangana on November 24-27 in the Hyderabad edition of several newspapers.

The Commission said it examined its own records and found that neither such approval was granted by it as required under above mentioned instruction nor any such application from Karnataka is found pending for decision.

The EC observed that said act of giving advertisements highlighting the welfare schemes and achievements of government by the Karnataka government in newspapers having circulations in poll going state of Telangana is in gross violation of its directions.

The Commission said it has taken a serious view of the said violative act by the Karnataka government.

The EC asked to explain the circumstances which led to the violation of its MCC instructions on the part of the government. The explanation should reach by November 28 at 5:00 pm.

“Further publication of any such advertisements by the Government of Karnataka in the State of Telangana shall be stopped forthwith with immediate effect till necessary approvals are taken by the Government from the Commission as required by the instructions on MCC as mentioned above,” the Commission.

The EC also asked to explain why disciplinary action is not directed against Secretary-in-charge of Department of Information and Public Relations for violations of procedure as required under MCC instructions, as expected under the instruction of the Commission.

Voting for the 119 member Telangana Assembly will be held in a single phase on November 30. Counting of votes will take place on December 3 along with Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram.

The upcoming polls in Telangana is likely to be a three-cornered one with the ruling BRS taking on the Congress and the BJP.