RTI Reveals: ECI Cautioned KCR Over 2019 Election Speech; Telangana CEO Yet to Furnish Transferred Records.
ECI CPIO furnished certified records under RTI guidelines; information transferred to CEO Telangana remains pending.
Telangana, September 2, 2026: An RTI application filed by RTI Consultant and Social Activist Ganji Srinivasa Rao has revealed details of the Election Commission of India’s action against former Telangana Chief Minister and then TRS president K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) over remarks made during an election rally in Karimnagar in 2019.
Complaint over Karimnagar speech
On March 17, 2019, KCR addressed an election rally in Karimnagar. A complaint was filed by M. Rama Raju, State President, Viswa Hindu Parishad, alleging that KCR made derogatory remarks and appealed to communal feelings.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) subsequently issued Notice No. 437/TEL-HP/2019 dated April 9, 2019, stating that the remarks prima facie appeared to violate sub-paragraphs (1) and (3) of Para 1 of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), concerning the maintenance of communal harmony and appeals to communal feelings.
KCR denied allegations
In his reply dated April 12, 2019, bearing Letter No. 101/ECI/TRS/2019, KCR denied the allegations in toto.
He contended that his speech had been misconstrued and that portions of his remarks had been presented in a truncated manner. He stated that his comments were intended to promote secularism and democracy.
RTI application seeks complete records
To obtain the official records, Ganji Srinivasa Rao filed RTI Application No. 148/2025 on June 17, 2025, before the Public Information Officer of the ECI.
The RTI application sought certified copies of the ECI notice, KCR’s reply, action-taken reports, correspondence, note files and the final decision, including details of any penalty.
The ECI CPIO Navin Kumar, through Letter No. 4/RTI/2025/SS-III/1462 dated July 8, 2025, furnished certified copies of the 2019 notice, KCR’s reply and the final order.
The information relating to the local file/note files was transferred to the Chief Electoral Officer, Telangana, under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act, 2005.
Appreciation to ECI CPIO
Srinivasa Rao appreciated the ECI CPIO for promptly furnishing the available certified records and transferring the remaining portion of the RTI request to the concerned public authority in accordance with the DoPT guidelines and the RTI Act.
He said such prompt action by the CPIO facilitates transparency and enables applicants to obtain authentic government records directly from the competent public authority.
CEO Telangana information remains pending
However, Srinivasa Rao stated that the information transferred to the CEO, Telangana, concerning the local file/note files has not been furnished to him till date.
He questioned the continued delay in providing information that was formally transferred under Section 6(3) and said that statutory RTI requests should not remain pending indefinitely after being transferred to the authority holding the records.
He further said that, wherever the facts establish a failure to discharge official duties, the issue of disciplinary responsibility under the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1964 (CCA Rules) may also require examination, apart from the remedies available under the RTI Act.
ECI found MCC violation and cautioned KCR
The ECI, in its Final Order dated May 3, 2019, Order No. 437/TEL-HP/2019, held that KCR, being the Chief Minister and president of the political party, had an added responsibility to uphold secular principles while addressing public rallies.
The Commission concluded that his speech violated sub-paragraphs (1) and (3) of Para 1 of the Model Code of Conduct.
The ECI formally cautioned K. Chandrashekar Rao to be more careful in future and to strictly adhere to the provisions of the MCC while addressing public rallies.
RTI brings official election records into public domain
The matter highlights the importance of the RTI Act in obtaining documentary evidence concerning electoral conduct and decisions of public authorities.
The records furnished by the ECI provide an official documentary trail covering the complaint, ECI notice, KCR’s reply and the final order. The remaining state-level file and note records are yet to be furnished by the CEO, Telangana.
Srinivasa Rao said he would continue to pursue the pending information through the remedies available under the RTI Act.
Way2RTI.com — Key Takeaway
The case demonstrates both the effectiveness of RTI when public authorities comply with statutory procedures and the need for timely action when information is transferred under Section 6(3).
While the ECI CPIO furnished certified records and transferred the remaining request to the concerned authority, the continued non-receipt of the transferred information from the CEO, Telangana raises questions regarding timely compliance and administrative accountability.
Way2RTI.com believes that access to official records is fundamental to public accountability, and that RTI applicants should receive information within the statutory framework prescribed by law.
Note: Are you interested in filing an RTI application on the above issue? Interested citizens may send their details to our official email: gsrao@way2rti.com
