Vijayawada: With the Supreme Court junking Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's and other opposition parties' review plea for 50 per cent VVPAT verification on the counting day, YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) official spokesperson Ambati Rambabu wondered why the former wants to still rake up the issue with the Election Commission (EC).

Speaking to the press persons here on Wednesday, he said Chandrababu’s comments against the EC were tantamount to humiliating a revered institution. The YSRCP leader also derided his comments as irresponsible and demanded that Chandrababu apologise to the EC. He questioned the Chief Minister as to why he had no doubts about the way the EVMs and VVPATs were working in the 2014 elections when he had contested with the support of the BJP and Jana Sena Party.

These statements were fuelled by the fear of losing elections Ambati said, and that he was trying push the blame on the EVMs out of this fear.

Amabati Rambabu also commented on Chandrababu Naidu trying to conduct a cabinet meeting on May 14 when the Model Code of Conduct was in force. He said that Chandrababu defying the system and was trying to conduct this meeting out of spite against the EC and the Chief Secretary (CS). He was also checking to see whether the CS would attend the meeting or not. Ambati also scoffed at Chandrababu's statement that the Cabinet meeting was not a violation of the model code of conduct.

Earlier, the state chief electoral officer had asked Chandrababu not to hold review meetings citing the model code of conduct.

Ambati also commented on the Speaker of AP Assembly Kodela Siva Prasada Rao for his comments while in the chamber of the secretariat and said that this was also a violation of the Code of Conduct. He also requested the EC to look into this matter and take disciplinary action against him.

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