Questioning cine actor Nandamuri Balakrishna how he could cast his vote in Telangana being an MLA of Andhra Pradesh State, Karimnagar former MP Ponnam Prabhakar said casting vote by Balakrishna was against the law.
Ponnam lodged a complaint with the State Election Commission demanding disqualification of Balakrishna as a Member of Legislative Assembly as per election code.
It may recalled that Balakrishna, who was representing from Hindupur constituency in Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh State, cast his vote in Jubilee Hills division in GHMC elections held on February 2 and gave poses to the media showing his ink mark.
Questioning Balakrishna, who was MLA in Andhra Pradesh state, to tell as to how he could cast his vote in Telangana state, Ponnam said in his complaint that a person could contest in elections only when he has a vote in that particular state. “How could Balakrishna cast his vote in Telangana state”, he asked and said that as per Public Representatives Act it was not correct and hence the Election Commission has to disqualify Balakrishna as an MLA.
Ponnam explained that as per Public Representatives Act, a person has to be a voter anywhere in the country if he wanted to contest in Lok Sabha elections, but a person must be a voter in his own State if he wanted to contest in Assembly elections. He also explained that a person must be a voter in the concerned district if he wanted to contest for the Zilla Parishad member. How Balakrishna could cast his vote in other State? Does it not amount to violation of law?, he asked. He demanded that the Election Commission initiate immediate action against Balakrishna by disqualifying him as an MLA. (NSS)
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