EC not to intervene in Jagan's arrest

The Election Commission is understood to have decided not to intervene in the matter concerning the arrest of YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy, whose mother has sought his release in view of the coming bypolls in Andhra Pradesh.

The three-member Election Commission met on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi and discussed the letter from Y S Vijayalakshmi, YSR Congress honorary president, seeking a direction from the Commission for her son's release.

Top sources in the EC said the commission was not in a position to do anything in this regard as the matter was sub-judice and a legal process was on.

The commission will make clear its position in a communication to Vijayalakshmi, they said.

Jagan was arrested by CBI in a disproportionate assets case on Sunday and was lodged in a Hyderabad jail on Monday after a court remanded him in judicial custory for 14 days.

Against this backdrop, Vijayalakshmi had written to the CEC pleading for his release so that Jagan could campaign in the June 12 bypolls to 18 assembly constituencies and one Lok Sabha seat in Andhra Pradesh.

The party had also decided on Tuesday that she would lead the campaign in Jagan's absence.

Urging for conduct of free and fair elections, Vijayalakshmi had said, "I am writing this letter with great hope that you would kindly intervene (in the matter)... CBI arrested him (Jagan) on May 27, just 15 days before the by-elections...This is part of a larger conspiracy to deprive his participation in the elections with the sole objective of helping the ruling Congress candidates."