BJP Storms DGP Office Over Maktal Candidate Suicide

A tense situation prevailed at the DGP office in Hyderabad today after activists of the BJP attempted to storm the premises, protesting the alleged suicide of a party candidate during the Maktal municipal elections.

The workers pushed against barricades in an attempt to reach the office. When police intervened to stop them, a brief scuffle broke out. The police later dispersed the protesters and shifted them to a nearby police station.

The BJP leadership accused Minister for Fisheries Vakiti Srihari of creating an atmosphere of harassment, which they claimed led to the suicide of their candidate, Erukali Mahadevappa, during the election.

State BJP chief N Ramchander Rao blamed the Congress for the "suicide", and called it a result of the Congress' arrogant politics and mafia threats.

Rao said that Mahadevappa's wife had clearly mentioned that her husband was confident of winning the election, and that she had also said that ruling party leaders were harassing and intimidating them, creating constant fear. She explicitly said that her husband took his own life due to the pressure exerted by local Congress leaders, Rao said.

"The facts shared by Mahadevappa's wife have already appeared in the news. Despite this, the police at the local station altered the FIR. As Mahadevappa's wife is not educated, the police allegedly took advantage of the situation, obtained her signature, and registered a false FIR by changing the details without her knowledge," the BJP chief said.

Rao urged the District SP to immediately visit the scene, conduct an inquiry and correct the false FIR. He also demanded that a post-mortem be conducted, and that the police officers who acted irresponsibly and registered a false case be suspended.

The BJP State chief announced Rs 10 lakh financial assistance for Mahadevappa's family, and assured the family members that the party would stand by them until the post-mortem was completed and the false FIR rectified.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay alleged that Mahadevappa's death should not be treated as a suicide but as a murder orchestrated by the Congress. He accused Congress leaders of resorting to threats and intimidation out of fear of defeat in the municipal elections. He said that the BJP would launch a campaign against the Congress after the polls, and that BJP workers would continue to resist political oppression.

DGP Shivdhar Reddy confirmed that a case had been registered in connection with the candidate's death in Maktal, and said that an investigation was underway. He added that Mahadevappa did not leave a suicide note behind.

Election Officer Sriram announced in the Maktal town centre that polling for Ward 6 had been temporarily cancelled following the candidate's death.