Lok Sabha Election 2024: ECI bans KCR from campaigning for 48 hours

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has barred Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief K Chandrashekar Rao from campaigning for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections for 48 hours over a complaint regarding derogatory comments made by him against Congress.

The EC on Wednesday imposed the ban where he is not allowed to hold public meetings or public processions etc..

“KCR has been barred from holding any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, shows and interviews, public utterances in media (electronic, print, social media) etc. in connection with the ongoing elections for 48 hours from 8 pm on May 1,” stated the ECI order. 

The derogatory comments were made by KCR against Congress during a press meet in Sircilla on April 5, 2024, ECI said in an order dated May 1. 

After the election body issued orders, KCR cancelled his proposed roadshow in Jammikunta on Thursday and left for his farmhouse in Erravalli.

The complaint was made by G Niranjan, senior vice president, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC), alleging that KCR made “derogatory and objectionable statements” against the Congress party. 
According to ECI, KCR said that a “Congressman told [people] to sell Nirodhs (condoms) and papads for survival.” 

Telangana’s former CM also used other derogatory words to refer to Congress leaders which loosely translates to someone who is good-for-nothing. 

The ECI had earlier issued a show cause notice to KCR on April 16 over the same remarks. 
Reacting to the poll body’s decision, KCR, at a roadshow in Mahabubabad, stated that the ECI did not send any notices to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who used derogatory language like “pegulu medalo vesukuntaa” (will wear a garland out of intestines). 

“If the ECI barred me from the election campaign for 48 hours, then BRS activists will work extra hard for 96 hours,” he declared.