ECI Suspends 106 Telangana Officials for Attending KCR’s Party Meeting

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday suspended 106 government officials in Telangana for attending an “unauthorised” event organised by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Medak candidate and former IAS officer P Venkatram Reddy.

According to the ECI, the former IAS officer Reddy convened the meeting without proper permission from the concerned Returning Officer of the Siddipet Assembly Segment within the Medak Parliamentary Constituency.

“The meeting, which occurred on April 7, 2024, was captured on CCTV, providing clear evidence of its occurrence, thereby violating the Model Code of Conduct,” said the ECI.

An FIR has been lodged against Reddy and other BRS leaders for conducting this “unauthorised meeting”.

The government officials who were suspended by the Election Commission for attending this “unauthorized” political meet include technical assistants, engineering consultants, computer operators, community coordinators, village organisation assistants, auditors and others, most of whom were officials of the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Siddipet.

The action was initiated after the BJP’s Medak candidate M Raghunandan Rao complained to the Assistant Returning Officer and Revenue Divisional Officer that DRDA staff members were attending a BRS meeting.

All 106 staff members were suspended with immediate effect.

Lok Sabha elections will take place in Telangana in a single phase on May 13, 2024.