No personal attacks during election campaign: Telangana SEC warns parties

Hyderabad: In what may sound like a warning ahead of the GHMC polls, the State election commission has asked candidates not to indulge in personal attacks on each other during the campaign trials.'No criticism of any aspect of candidates private life which is not connected with his public life shall be made nor any allegation be made which are based on unverified facts or incidents" said the SEC.

The GHMC elections campaign so far has seen many controversial remarks made by candidates across the political parties. From offering each other beef and pork biryani to demolishing the grave of late Prime Minister P V Narsimha Rao. The remark of conducting surgical strikes against illegal migrants in the old city area of Hyderabad grabbed attention this elections.

While the BJP party has pressed in its national leaders including Union Minister like Prakash Javdekar, Smithi Irani and Home Minister Amit Shah who is likely to campaign on 29th November. The TRS and AIMIM have further intensified their trails.

Taking note of war of words being hurled at each other the SEC said, "It is seen from the media that several leaders of political parties are indulging in personal criticism based on unverified facts during electioneering in GHMC. Such personal attacks triggers a chain of reaction and vitiates electioneering which should be carried on in an atmosphere of restraint. Such comments invite violation of Model code of conduct'.

The secretary –Telangana SEC M Ashok Kumar has directed candidates to confine their criticism to policies and programs. Any violation will be reviewed seriously' he said.

The SEC has also directed the electronic media to refrain from telecasting such content." No media should publish derogatory speeches of candidates. It may spoil the peaceful atmosphere of free and fair election and may cause law and order issue" the order said.