Irregularities in municipal polls humiliated entire Telangana society: Uttam

Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has alleged that entire Telangana society was humiliated due to the manner in which the municipal elections were conducted.

Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan on Tuesday, Uttam Kumar Reddy accused TRS Working President and Minister K. Tarakarama Rao of spearheading the large scale irregularities in the entire process of municipal elections. "Despite Congress party having a majority in Nereducherla municipality in Suryapet district, TRS Government and State Election Commission brazenly misused and abused power and manipulated the election of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson today," he said while pointing out that Congress had 8 seats while TRS had only 7 seats. He said that the name of Rajya Sabha MP K.V.P. Ramchandar Rao was included as ex-officio member after Congress party furnished documents pertaining to Rajya Sabha which clearly says that he represents Telangana State.

"After the election process in Nereducherla municipality was started at 11 am yesterday, the swearing-in ceremony started. After two members were sworn in and 3rd member's swearing-in was going on, TRS MLA started throwing a tantrum and election officer postponed the polling. Then KTR gets into action and pressurised SEC & Director, MAD to add TRS MLC Subhash Reddy to voters list this morning although the deadline to include ex-officio members ended on January 25 midnight. How shameless of KTR? This Nereducherla municipal election symbolises the manner in which municipal elections were held in Telangana," he said.

He alleged that KTR himself spoke to Election Commission Nagi Reddy and MA&UD Commission Sri Devi to get the name of MLC Subhash Reddy included in the voter list. He said when the Congress leaders protested they were arrested by the police. He said no top official picked up the phone when he tried to reach them.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said instead of mocking the election process, TRS party should have prepared the lists of municipalities at KCR's farmhouse and announced its victory. He alleged that the public money looted through Mission Bhagiratha and other schemes was used to win the municipal elections. He said that the Congress party has been demanding gap between the announcement of ward reservation and election notification. However, the demand remained unheard and within hours after the High Court's verdict, the notification was issued.

The Nalgonda MP said that he would raise the issue of how judiciary was behaving in Telangana in the Parliament and he has already sought permission from the Lok Sabha Speaker for the same. He said there were unconfirmed reports and a reference given by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao himself in a press conference of him having a discussion with the Chief Justice on issues which were pending in the court. He said that the Congress party would take up the matter with the President of India and also with Chief Justice of India.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the municipal elections in Telangana were not conducted in a fair manner and the role played by the State Election Commission was highly objectionable. He said that the use of money and muscle power and liquor was unprecedented.

He said that the results of municipal elections could not be called people's mandate. He said that the TRS gained control over municipalities through illegal and unethical means. They gained control over municipalities where only one TRS councillor was elected by taking the help of 10 ex-officio members. He said TRS has completely polluted the political atmosphere and murdered democracy in broad daylight.

Rajya Sabha MP KVP Ramchandar Rao, MLC T. Jeevan Reddy, ex-MP M. Anjan Kumar Yadav, ex-MLA Marri Shashidhar Reddy and other leaders were also present.