YSRCP MP Vijaysai Reddy writes letter to EC over elections counting process

Amaravati: The YSR Congress Party national general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Vijaysai Reddy alleged that the ruling TDP may intentionally cause violence during the election counting process.

Through the letter, MP requests the EC to take the special measures over the arrangements for the counting and interference of the TDP counting agents.

In the letter he writes; On behalf of the YSRCP, we thank the ECI for conducting the general elections in AP, by and large in a free and fair manner with close supervision by the important functionaries of the commission.

However, we would like to bring to your notice certain information about the ruling dispensation's plans to create disturbance during the orderly conduct of counting in the designated centers. The following are our apprehensions and requests for your intervention to thwart any untoward incidents during the counting process.

It is likely that counting agents of the ruling party may bring forged 17-C forms and start arguing with counting supervisors to delay the process. ECI may announce filing of criminal cases against agents who bring such forged forms.

Further, we request ECI to instruct election observers to be physically present as long as possible in the respective counting halls and be tough while dealing with such cases. it gives Returning Officers enough confidence to standup to the pressures of the ruling party.

The counting agents scrutiny and approval may be got delayed deliberately in respect of YSRCP, so as to create panic among our agents. They may even reject few without giving opportunity to put in place substitutes. Clear instructions may be given to expedite that approval process to avoid the last minute hitches.

Counting agents may be frisked thoroughly and prohibited from carrying cell phones, match boxes, knives, scissors, and water bottles.

We request the ECi to instruct all Returning Officers to erect Steel barricading along with the mesh in all counting halls to avoid any nuisance by the counting agents while observing EVMs.

We further request compulsory invocation of section 144 (CRPC) near all the counting centers to avoid any Law and Order issue.

We also request deployment of CRPF to the extent possible near all the counting centers instead of State Police in order to neutralize the influence of the ruling party.

Sir, we have full confidence in the wisdom and actions of Election Commission of India and its functionaries, and the above request are made specifically to avoid the likely disturbances which the ruling party dispensations wants to create as per the ground reports received from our party functionaries all over the state.

We shall be grateful if the Commission can look into the above suggestions and positively respond to our requests by issuing appropriate instructions to the concerned.