Nandyal bye-poll: Andhra police arrest journalist for publishing pre-poll survey

Publication of poll surveys is a violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
Nandyal bye-poll: Andhra police arrest journalist for publishing pre-poll survey
Nandyal bye-poll: Andhra police arrest journalist for publishing pre-poll survey
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The Andhra Pradesh police arrested a journalist from a regional newspaper on Saturday, on charges of publishing a pre-poll survey of the Nandyal bye-election, and violating norms laid down by the Election Commission.

Publication of poll surveys is a violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

The Deccan Chronicle reported that Kuna Ajay Babu, published the survey on the news website Netibharatham.com, and claimed that the YSRCP candidate was going to win over the TDP candidate.

The DC report adds that a complaint was filed by the Returning Officer and a case was registered under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Representation of People Act and the IT Act.

"As their culpability was established in the publication of a pre-poll survey on the website and on Facebook with a fabricated document both were arrested and sent to judicial custody," the newspaper quoted a release saying.

Last month, YSRCP President Jaganmohan Reddy’s media house Sakshi TV has also been booked under sections of the Representation of People’s Act.

TDP leaders had lodged a complaint with Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal, alleging that Sakshi newspaper and TV channel had violated the election's model code of conduct, with its 'biased' coverage, aimed at defaming TDP and Naidu.

The voting for the Nandyal bye-poll took place on August 23. The TDP had fielded Bhuma Brahmananda Reddy, while the YSRCP had fielded Silpa Mohan Reddy.

The bye-poll was necessitated after the death of Bhuma Nagi Reddy, who had quit the YSR Congress party along with his daughter Akhila Priya, to join the ruling TDP in 2016.

The TDP’s win came after a heated campaign between the two main parties in the state, with both of them treating it as a battle for prestige.

The constituency witnessed a high-voltage campaign led by Naidu and Jagan.

The Election Commission used Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs) in the bye-elections in all the polling stations.

IANS inputs

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