Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh):The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has given a representation to State Election Commissioner (SEC), N Ramesh Kumar, regarding YSRCP flag colours painted on government buildings, terming it a violation of model code of conduct ahead of local body elections.
"We would like to bring to your notice certain issues that pose a serious threat to the free and fair conduct of democratic elections to the local bodies. The YSRCP-led government in its over-excitement has painted gram panchayat buildings, school buildings, road dividers, electric poles and other public structures with the colours of YSRCP party flag," TDP state president K Kala Venkata Rao said in a letter to SEC.
"In some cases, the party symbol, fan, also has been painted, embarrassing the democratic values cherished for so long. This also led to sharp divisions and segregation among the people at ground level. The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for local body elections issued by the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission in 2019 clearly states that no candidate shall use or permit private or public property to further their party symbols," the letter read.
Terming the issue as a clear violation of election code of conduct as it is bound to influence the voters, the party requested to "initiate stringent action against using the YSRCP party colours on GP buildings, school buildings, road drivers, electric poles and other public structures".
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"Further for free and fair conduct of the election, it is necessary to immediately change the colour of GP buildings, school buildings, road dividers, electric poles and other public structures and village/ward secretariats, wherever YSRCO colours have been painted," the party said.