Election Commission suspends Telangana tourism MD for code breach

Hyderabad: Taking a serious view of senior officials of Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation (TSTDC) accompanying a cabinet minister during his Tirumala visit last month, the Election Commission of India on Friday suspended corporation MD, Boinpally Manohar Rao, and sacked OSD to the MD, Y Satyanarayana.

Citing it as a clear case of violation of model code of conduct, ECI issued directions for departmental proceedings against the MD and his OSD and also sought explanation from tourism department principal secretary Shailaja Ramaiyer. "Action taken report and explanation should reach the commission by 3 pm on November 19," ECI said.

As per the ECI guidelines, officers of the state government or district administration should not receive, see off or call upon, by way of protocol, cabinet ministers in the Centre or states when they go to a district on an election tour or visit a place, a senior election official said.