India News | AP SEC Annuls TDP Manifesto Released Before Panchayat Polls

Amaravati(AP), Feb 4 (PTI) The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission on Thursday annulled TDP's manifesto released ahead of the gram panchayat polls scheduled from February 9, citing violation of the order of the election body, barring use of campaign material during the elections held on non-party basis.

State Election Commissioner N Ramesh Kumar, acting on a complaint lodged by the ruling YSR Congress general secretary Lella Appi Reddy, said in an order that TDPs manifesto was a clear violation of the Commissions order issued on October 25, 2018 banning use of campaign material of any kind as the gram panchayat elections are conducted on a non-party basis.

The SEC arrived at a conclusion that the manifesto with photographs published and circulated by the Telugu Desam Party is a 'suggestive affiliation of political party' in the context of Gram Panchayat elections held on 'non-party basis'.

"It is a clear violation of the Commissions order issued on October 25, 2018 and it defeats the very purpose and object of apolitical nature of Gram Panchayat elections," Ramesh Kumar said in Thursdays order.

Exercising the Commission's plenary powers under Article 243K of the Constitution, and also the Section 200 of AP Panchayat Raj Act, the Commissioner annulled the TDP manifesto and ordered its immediate withdrawal.

The TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu released the manifesto, entitled Palle Pragati-Pancha Sutralu, on January 28.

The YSRC lodged a complaint with the SEC on January 29 and the TDP filed its reply to the SECs notice on February 2.

The TDP contended that the manifesto was only a reference document or benchmark for the public at large for what the party stands for and what it offers or promises to offer to the electorate, in particular, if its supported candidates become victorious.

The State Election Commissioner said the explanation offered by the TDP was not satisfactory.

Accordingly, it was annulled.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)