Don't write baseless news reports: Rajat Kumar

Chief Electoral Officer of Telangana Rajath Kumar yesterday expressed concern over a section of the media writing baseless news items and tarnishing the image of the Election Commission. The CEO clarified that the poll percentage had increased in the evening as the last voters in queue lines cast votes after 5 pm and what he gave were the details up to 5 pm.

The CEO warned that severe action will be taken against those media newspapers or news channels and social media for writing and airing the stories of baseless content which violates poll code or against democratic spirit.

Talking to the media at the Secretariat yesterday, Rajat Kumar clarified on the increased poll percentage in some of the segments such as Nizamabad wherein 185 candidates were in fray, Hyderabad and Secunderabad segments due to last votes polled afternoon as those in queue lines were allowed to exercise their franchise. A person who got a selife at a strong room was is in police custody and inquiry was going on, he said.

“There was no need for doubts on the votes polled as the EC officials obtain Form 17-C forms from polling agents duly signed followed by a check for veracity. The Media should refrain from writing false or baseless stories that will add to doubts of people and also democracy. Police cases will be booked against the media which continues to write baseless



news items”, he warned.

“Similar scenario found in Hyderabad and Secunderabad segments saw 5 to 6 per cent increase of votes polled. We have covered the events through CCTV and political parties and their agents in polling booths will have the Form 17 C. This form has the number of votes polled and percentage of polling and the candidates can check them”. He also said he informed the same to the leaders who met him.

When asked on ballot units found in auto in Jagtial under Nizamabad Parliamentary Constituency, Rajat Kumar said after an inquiry it was found to be M2 series machine while in Nizamabad it was M3 series machines. He also cited that in Nizamabad Parliamentary segment, he gave the number of votes polled by 5 pm on the polling day and the rest later followed by officials checking the votes polled after 5 pm till the last voter cast his vote while the polling time was 6 pm which saw increase of 15 to 16 per cent votes.

The CEO expressed displeasure at social media for showing false news related to polling in Rajasthan in 2008 as if it happened in Telangana State. This type of items should be stopped and the people should not make the platform for spreading falsehood, he said. “We have ordered police inquiry into such cases and the media should maintain restraint, he added.