EC not to intervene with regard to Jagan's arrest

New Delhi: The Election Commission is understood to have decided not to intervene in the matter concerning the arrest of YSR Congress chief Jagan Mohan Reddy, whose mother has sought his release in view of the coming bypolls in Andhra Pradesh. The three-member Election Commission met today under the chairmanship of Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi and discussed the letter from YS Vijayalakshmi, YSR Congress honorary president, seeking a direction from the Commission for her son’s release. [caption id=“attachment_324841” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“PTI”] [/caption] 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 yesterday 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 12 June bypolls to 18 assembly constituencies and one Lok Sabha seat in Andhra Pradesh. The party had also decided yesterday 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 27 May, 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.” PTI