Hyderabad: Replying to EC's show cause notice on violation of model code of conduct during a public meeting, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Thursday said it was a "slip of tongue" and not a deliberate attempt to violate the poll code.
"It was only due to a slip of tongue that my appeal to party workers conveyed a wrong meaning. My intention was to exhort each party worker to make 10 people vote for Congress (in the by-elections) by propagating the government schemes," the Chief Minister clarified in his reply, submitted to the Election Commission on Thursday.
The complaint against Kiran was that during a public meeting in Rayadurg Assembly constituency in Anantapur district on May 18, he had asked each party worker to "cast 10 votes" in the June 12 by-election in favour of the Congress.
Sources in the Chief Minister's office said Kiran's reply was sent to the the ECI in New Delhi, with a copy marked to the Chief Electoral Officer.
The Election Commission had issued a notice to Reddy two days ago, seeking explanation on his remarks made at the Congress workers' meeting in Rayadurgam last week.
The YSR Congress lodged a complaint against the Chief Minister with the EC accusing him of violating the code of conduct.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, May 31, 2012, 18:44