The Election Commission of India (ECI) has relaxed the Model Code of Conduct in the north coastal districts of A.P. facing cyclone threat three days after Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu made a formal request for it.
In a communication to Chief Electoral Officer Gopal Krishna Dwivedi, EC Under-Secretary K.P. Singh said the request for relaxation of the code had been approved to facilitate preventive and relief works associated with the cyclone in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari districts.
It may be noted that Mr. Naidu wrote a letter to EC on May 1 seeking relaxation in the code to enable the government take up relief measures. Accordingly, the EC granted the relaxation to pave the way for speedy restoration activities.
Earlier, the YSRCP lodged a complaint with the EC alleging that Mr. Naidu violated the code by holding a review meeting, and the CM shot back saying as an elected government, it had the power to monitor the calamity and issue necessary instructions to officials.