HYDERABAD: A division bench of the Hyderabad High Court on Monday sought information from the Election Commission regarding steps it had taken on election manifestos to be released by political parties in Telangana. The bench was dealing with a PIL seeking directions to the poll panel to make political parties accountable.
The petitioner, city-based chartered accountant M Narayana Charyulu wanted the Election Commission to take steps to ensure that the political parties concerned were made accountable to its election promises in view of Supreme Court guidelines in Subramanyam Balaji case of the year 2013. Petitioner’s counsel A Gopala Rao urged the court to issue directions to ensure that political parties stick to their promises.
Responding to submissions, standing counsel of ECI Avinash Desai said it was not mandatory to declare manifestos. Taking these submissions into consideration, the bench directed the ECI to submit details regarding the political parties which have declared election manifestos. The matter will be heard next Monday.