Vijayawada: Preventing candidates from filing papers serious crime said SEC Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar

Vijayawada: State Election Commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar on Thursday said that the commission will take serious action on those who prevent candidates from filing nomination papers.

In a statement, he said that the commission had received several complaints from various quarters that the candidates were physically prevented from filing nominations and were threatened with dire consequences.

The SEC said the Commission also noticed this in various newspapers and electronic media and it would consider this as serious crime and violation of election code of conduct.

He said the district collectors were given instructions to take such complaints seriously and provide protection to the candidates as per the guidelines of the election commission. The officials were told to conduct the elections peacefully and in free and fair manner, he added.

He said that the collectors were asked to verify all the complaints from the voters and the parties. He assured people that the Commission would take cognizance of the news in the press and electronic media and take suitable action as per the law.