* Code of conduct in force in 12 districts

The Election Commission has barred Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and Ministers from participating in Rachabanda programme in the 12 districts where model code of conduct is in force due to the biennial elections being held in six State Legislative Council constituencies there. It issued orders to this effect on Thursday.

Nonetheless, the officials involved in conduct of elections like returning officers have been prohibited from participating in the programme meetings. With the programme slated to be held for two more days, the scheduled visits of the Chief Minister and Ministers to Kadapa and Nellore districts on Friday and Saturday have been cancelled.

Besides Kadapa and Nellore, the districts in which the code has come into force are Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Prakasam, Chittoor, Anantapur, Kurnool, Mahabubnagar, Ranga Reddy and Hyderabad following announcement of the election schedule by the EC on February 8 from when the code came into force.

Published Date : Friday, 11/2/2011 3:00 PM IST