Date:23/09/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/09/23/stories/2005092311240300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Congress, CPI accused of violating election code

Staff Reporter

TDP says voting slips with symbols, candidates name distributed

Congress, Left parties accused of threatening TDP candidates, supporters
Additional police forces to man some divisions sought

A list containing 58 Congressmen who may resort to violence submitted to SP

ANANTAPUR: The district unit of Telugu Desam Party has lodged a complaint with the State Election Commission accusing the Congress and CPI of issuing "unofficial voting slips" with party symbols and names of candidates, in violation of model code of conduct.

Giving the details to newspersons here on Thursday, the district president of the party V. Hanumantharaya Chowdary, the Polit Bureau member, K. Srinivasulu, and the Uravakonda legislator P. Keshav, alleged that they had found evidence of such violation of poll code by the Congress in four divisions and the CPI in one division in Anantapur.

Paragraph 14 of the model code of conduct issued by the SEC clearly stated that the "voting identity slips given to voters by the parties shall be on plain papers without the symbol and name of the candidate printed on it." Only the details pertaining to the voter concerned like polling station and booth number, serial number of the voter in electoral rolls should be provided on the plain paper, he explained.

The party leaders also alleged that the Congress and Left were intimidating its candidates and their supporters in Anantapur and other municipalities.

Plea to SP

Meanwhile, the TDP leaders urged the Superintendent of Police to depute additional police force to man stations in divisions 3, 6, 13, 26, 30 and 34 here.