EMC asks parties to ensure 'liquor-free' by-elections

Election Monitoring Committee chairman Ambati Lakshmana Rao on Saturday called upon all political parties to cooperate with the committee for conducting the by-elections in a 'liquor–free' environment.

Talking to media persons in the city, Lakshmana Rao said that the by-elections would become a role model for the rest of country if they were conducted in a liquor-free environment. He appealed to all political parties to prevent free flow of liquor and money bags in the by-elections and set a model for rest of country. He urged the voters to reject those candidates who try to lure them with liquor and money in the by-elections and elect honest persons with good educational background.

Stating that there was no need for Election Monitoring Committees if all parties strictly follow the model code of conduct, he asked the parties to take steps to uphold the democratic values in the campaigns. He asked the Election Commission of India to take all measures for the conduct of by-elections in a free and fair manner.