TDP targets CEO as Nandyal campaign ends

Nandyal: The ruling TDP trained its guns on Chief Electoral Officer of AP and Telangana Bhanwarlal for his alleged bias in enforcing the ‘model code’ of elections in the Nandyal Assembly segment even as the high-pitched campaign ended on Monday making way for a deceptive lull.

A three-member delegation of TDP MPs comprising K Rammohan Naidu, Malyadri Sriram and Nimmala Kishtappa—petitioned Chief Election Commissioner of India (CECI) Achal Kumar Jyoti in Delhi seeking action against Bhanwarlal.

Rammohan Naidu told The Hans India that they have presented a fact-sheet containing specific cases establishing Banwarlal’s `bias’ before the CEC of India.

The speed at which the Chief Electoral Officer acted on the complaints of the YSRC was conspicuously missing when came to grievances expressed by TDP’s in Nandyal, he said. The TDP MPs highlighted four issues that suggested the alleged inaction of the CEO.

The TDP sought disqualification of the nomination of YSRC candidate Silpa Mohan Reddy on the ground that the notary who helped notarise documents relating to filing of his nomination papers has his license expired three years ago; the haste in which Banwarlal acted in shifting of Nandyal Sub Division Police Officer SV Gopalakrishna soon after receiving a complaint from the YSRC over his `selective’ search operations involving only the houses of YSRC leaders; the manner in which the CM’s pantry car checked and its locks were broken open by the election officials at the instance of the CEO on the YSRC charge that it was carrying money for distribution to voters.

Rammohan Naidu said the CEO failed to take any deterrent action over his party’s complaints vis-à-vis Jagan’s call to shoot the CM dead and hang him that amounted to inciting violence.

Similarly, there is no action against the YSRC leader for using his house to stash cash amounting to Rs 41 lakh to bribe voters after seizure by police at Palkuru in Banaganapalli mandal.

The Election Commission has also prohibited pre-exit polls proposed by some agencies following an e-mail complaint to the CEO in which the YSRC candidate alleged that the surveys intended were to influence the electorate in favour of the TDP and help the government threaten the electors. “The exit polls can be conducted and the outcome shall be reserved until the election result is out. Prohibition of the surveys is illegal and unwarranted,” the TDP MP asserted.

Meanwhile, Banwarlal at a media conference in Hyderabad denied the charges of the TDP. “There is no inaction from my side on complaints from any quarter. The remarks of Jagan, calling to shoot Naidu dead and hang him were sent to the CECI for necessary action”, he said.

On subjecting the CM’s pantry car to check up, he quipped, “We have done our duty”. He clarified that the Election Commission has sought a fresh report over a video clip showing TDP MLA throwing currency notes over his audiences from atop his vehicle during his election campaign.

Meanwhile, the YSRCP presented a fresh representation to the CEO over the alleged electoral malpractices of TDP which included intimidation of SHG women and beneficiaries of social security pensions by CM Naidu.