Hephsiba Rani Korlapati, Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer for Udupi-Chikkamagaluru parliamentary constituency, suspended Sundar, headmaster, Government Model Higher Primary School, Kodavoor, for participating and giving a speech at a consultation meeting held by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy at Karkala in Udupi district on April 7 as it constituted a violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
In a press release issued here on Friday, Ms. Korlapati said Mr. Sundar had attended the meeting of Mr. Kumaraswamy in which the JD(S) candidate for Udupi-Chikkamagaluru parliamentary seat Pramod Madhwaraj had participated. Mr. Sundar had submitted a memorandum to the CM and sought the distribution of ‘DC Manna Bhoomi’ lands that had already been surveyed. He also sought appointment of Dalits on contract basis and provision of grants for self employment of Dalits.
The Model Code of Conduct was in force in Udupi district since March 10. No government employee could participate in election campaign meetings of parties. But Mr. Sundar had participated in the meeting, which was political in nature, and also gave a speech there, thus participated in campaigning. This was a clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct.