Vijayawada: Congress urges Governor to cancel civic polls

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Dr Sake Sailajanath appealed to Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan to save democracy by cancelling the civic elections which are marred by violence and terror.

He met the Governor at Raj Bhavan along with a team of Congress leaders here on Friday.

The Congress leaders said that they had approached the State Election Commissioner on Thursday but the same violence continued on Friday too. They said that the present election schedule should be cancelled and the fresh schedule could be issued after giving a gap.

The PCC president alleged that the officials were rejecting the nominations on one pretext or other following the directions of the YCP leaders. Surprisingly, they are setting new rules demanding police clearance for filing the nomination.

He regretted that the ruling party leaders were not differentiating the line between the government and the party.

The officials are sending out the nomination papers in the name of verification. At places the candidates are threatened and thrown out with muscle power. Referring to the incidents at Chakrayapet in Pulivendula and Narasaraopet were taken to the notice of the SEC but not action was taken. There were reports that the police were threatening the candidates to withdraw the nominations at Sullurupet, Shailajanath added.

There were allegations that some were forcing the candidates to withdraw to facilitate unanimous elections.

In the backdrop of these incidents, the PCC president appealed to the Governor to take initiative to set things right as the protector of the Constitution.

Sailajanath told the media that the Governor responded positively and assured to take suitable action.