Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary huddles with DGP, Intelligence ADG on ECI summons

AMARAVATI: Following summons from the Election Commission of India (ECI) on post-poll violence in Andhra Pradesh, Chief Secretary KS Jawahar Reddy held an emergency meeting with the Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta and Intelligence ADG Kumar Vishwajeet here on Wednesday.

The Chief Secretary along with the DGP would be leaving for New Delhi on Thursday to explain the the present situation in the State. The ECI sought an explanation from the two officials on the reasons failure of law and order and administration at the ground level.

The ECI also sought the action taken so far and the people of political parties responsible for the violence. The officials said to have discussed the issues to reply to the ECI.

In its letter, the commission said that it had repeatedly emphasised that there was no scope for violence in democracy. “It is in this context that the Commission has taken cognizance and extremely serious note of various media reports of post-poll violence in various parts of Andhra Pradesh,” the ECI said. The ECI mentioned that the Model Code of Conduct was still in operation.

The Commission directed the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police of Andhra Pradesh to ensure that violence should not repeat and should not take place.

The commission further directed that the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police be personally present at 3:30PM on May, 16,2024 (Thursday) in Nirvachan Sadan. New Delhi and report, explain to the Commission on following issues:

(i) Reasons for failure of administration to contain post-poll violence.

(ii) Who is responsible for not anticipating and/or taking preemptive actions to contain post-poll violence.

(iii) Is there a pattern in post-poll violence and if so remedial measures taken?