Congress to move court to stop counting in Hanakonda

Hanakonda: The Congress is mulling over to move the High Court levelling allegations against the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) for violating the poll norms in the election to Council seat under Warangal Local Authorities' Constituency. The Congress contends that the TRS has violated election norms by facilitating conveyance to the local body representatives.

Speaking to The Hans India, Congress candidate Engala Venkat Ram Reddy said: "It's apparent that the TRS had violated poll norms by shifting the representatives of the local bodies to their respective polling stations by hiring Telangana State Road Transport Corporation buses. It's a brazen violation of election laws in accordance with the Section 133 of Representation of the People Act 1951.

It is also clear evidence of 'undue influence' as mentioned in Point ii of the Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act 1951." Further, it is deemed to be an 'Election Offence' as per Section 171 of Indian Penal Code (IPC). And also, they have violated as per Appendix 7A of the Election Commission of India HandBook as per the people's act 1951 Do's and Don'ts for guidance of candidates in point No. 15 & 22 in Dont's.

Venkat Ram Reddy said that he would move the High Court to stop the counting of votes. It may be mentioned here that polling for Council election held on Friday.

Citing the same infringements, the Independent candidate Thakkallapally Ravinder also wrote a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer & E.O. Principal Secretary to Govt. Election Commission of India. He sought the Election Commission's intervention to stop the counting of votes which is scheduled for June 3 until the issue is settled.

It's learnt that the complainants have procured photographs of representatives of local bodies getting down from special buses at polling stations to buttress their argument.

It may be noted here that a sizable number of elected representatives of the local bodies camped in Hyderabad and hill stations in other States for the last couple of weeks. While the TRS termed it as an excursion, the Congress has alleged that it was an effort to influence the electorate by the ruling party.