EC summons Andhra officials over post-election violence

Election Commission summons Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary and DGP over post-poll violence. The Commission emphasizes the importance of peaceful elections and holds the state officials accountable for their administration's failure. The officials will be required to explain the reasons for the violence and outline preventive measures for the future.

Taking cognisance of post-poll violence in Andhra Pradesh, the Election Commission of India has summoned the state's chief secretary and the DGP on Thursday to ''personally explain'' the administration's failure to contain the incidents, sources said.

Reminding the state government that the Model Code of Conduct is still in force, the EC also asked the chief secretary and the police chief to ensure such incidents are not repeated.

The Commission has repeatedly emphasised that there is no place for violence in a democracy and since the announcement of Lok Sabha elections, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has been personally monitoring the election space to ensure peaceful and violence-free conduct of polls, officials pointed out. When they appear at the EC headquarters here on Thursday, the top Andhra Pradesh officials will be asked to ''personally explain'' the reasons for the administration's failure to contain the post-poll violence, the sources said.

They will also be asked about preemptive steps being taken to avoid any such incidents in the future, the sources said.

Post-poll violence was reported in parts of Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday where Lok Sabha and assembly polls were held together on Monday.

The leaders of the ruling YSRCP and opposition TDP have levelled allegations against each other for the incidents.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)