Poll code violation — Hegde attracts EC wrath

BANGALORE, AUG 16: Election Commission (EC) authorities have taken strong exception to Commerce Minister Ramakrishna Hegde's using the Ku...

BANGALORE, AUG 16: Election Commission (EC) authorities have taken strong exception to Commerce Minister Ramakrishna Hegde’s using the Kumara Krupa guest house for political activities on Saturday.

EC authorities in Bangalore have issued a note to this effect to the Commerce Minister’s private secretary D N Narasimha Raju expressing strong displeasure over the Minister addressing party workers on the lawns of the Kumara Krupa guest house. The Lok Shakti founder reportedly addressed his party workers who were agitated over the party’s decision to merge with the Janata Dal (United).

The Commission, in the note, insisted that the Minister’s conduct had amounted to a violation of the model code of conduct.

This is the second time the Minister is being pulled up for code of conduct violation.

The private secretary had, it is said, responded to the Commission’s first note assuring the authorities that such a violation would never be committed in future by the Minister. The authorities in Bangalore are said to have alerted the Commission office in Delhi about the violation.

Meanwhile, the authorities have put up notices in the Kumara Krupa guest house prohibiting political meetings and press conferences there.