Concern over election of MPs with criminal background

Vijayawada: Centre for Media Studies founder-chairman Nagulapalli Bhaskara Rao has expressed concern that many of the elected MPs in the recent general elections were from corporate groups and with criminal background, which was never seen in the earlier elections.

He was the chief guest in a panel discussion held at Freedom-fighters Building here on Tuesday. Addressing the gathering, Bhaskara Rao said that the MPs representing corporate sector and the candidates with crime background would harm the development of the nation. He lamented that in the 2019 elections, the elected candidates spent about Rs 60,000 crore as against Rs 30,000 crore in 2014 elections.

Furthermore, he said that the operation of EVMs came under a cloud and the Election Commission's functioning was also criticized. There is a strong perception that the EC's functioning was not fair, he added. CPM leader Ch Babu Rao, in his speech, commented that the scholars can do their Ph D degree on the topic of election expenditure.

Law College Principal Chennupati Diwakar Babu, social activist MC Das, Progressive Proco Secretary Akkineni Chandra Rao, Mahila Satta leader Darla Malathi and others were present.