The Karnataka government is being served a notice by the Election Commission for violating the Model Code of Conduct in Telangana

The Commission has asked the Government of Karnataka to submit its explanation by November 28 at 5 p.m. The Commission has asked the Government of Karnataka to submit its explanation by November 28 at 5 p.m.

The elections for the 40-member General Assembly will take place on November 7 and the counting of votes will take place on December 3. (File)

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India on Monday issued notice to the Karnataka government for publishing various welfare schemes and achievements in various newspapers in Telangana, which is seen as a violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

“The Commission has noticed that certain advertisements highlighting the welfare schemes and achievements of the Central Government and State Governments are being published by some non-polling State Governments in the newspaper editions in the States where elections are taking place. The Commission considers this as a violation of the spirit of the Model Code of Conduct,” the ECI said.

The ECI said that it has been brought to the notice of the Commission by the BJP on the basis of their statement dated November 27 and by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) on the basis of their statement dated November 25, that the Government of Karnataka has published advertisements for various Social Welfare and Performance in Telangana State on November 24-27, 2023 in the Hyderabad edition of various newspapers (copy attached).

The commission further said that in future, all such advertisements issued by non-poll state governments during the Model Code of Conduct period will be forwarded to the Commission for approval before being sent for publication in newspapers having an edition or circulation. states that are tied to opinion polls.

“The Commission has examined its own records and found that neither such approval has been granted by the Commission as required under the aforesaid direction nor such application from the State of Karnataka is pending decision. The Commission has taken seriously the said violation by the Government of Karnataka,” the ECI added.

The Commission has asked the Government of Karnataka to submit its explanation by November 28 at 5 p.m.

“Explain the circumstances leading to the violation of the above-mentioned MCC Commission instructions by the government. The explanatory memorandum must reach the Commission no later than 5:00 PM on 28 November 2023. Further publication of such advertisements by the Government of Karnataka in the State of Telangana shall be stopped immediately and with immediate effect until the Government obtains necessary approvals from the Commission and explains why no disciplinary action has been taken against the Secretary of the Ministry. of Information and Public Relations for the above violations of procedure,” the ECI notice said.