AICC national spokesperson Dasoju Sravan today condemned the "widespread election violations" that the TRS had allegedly indulged in, during today's MLC elections in the graduates' constituencies of Warangal-Nalgonda-Khammam and Hyderabad-Mahabubnagar-Rangareddy, and demanded that immediate action be taken against the party.
Singling out Home Minister Mohammad Mahmood Ali, he said that the minister had openly divulged the name of the candidate for whom he had cast his vote in a bid to "sway" his supporters to do the same.
"Though it is a flagrant violation of all election-time norms to disclose the name of the candidate for whom one has voted, Home Minister Mahmood Ali has revealed to all and sundry that he voted for TRS candidate Surabhi Vani Devi, in an attempt to influence other voters in the Hyderabad-Mahabubnagar-Rangareddy constituency to do the same. Such behaviour, that too from a self-proclaimed custodian of the Constitution, is nothing short of deplorable," he added.
The senior Congress leader then flayed the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Shashank Goel for "turning a blind eye" to the ruling party's misdeeds, and "surrendering" to its authority.
"While the TRS has openly been violating the election code of conduct, CEO Shashank Goel has been doing nothing to clamp down on such behaviour. Does he not know that even during polling the TRS has brazenly been displaying party banners, flags, caps, scarves and other paraphernalia at the polling booths? It seems as if he has been taking a nap while all this has been happening. He should remember that he is conducting the elections on behalf of the Election Commission of India, not as a private agent of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao," he fumed.
"It is disappointing to see the negligent attitude of the CEO - he did not even bother to look into the reports of the TRS' underhanded attempts to
lure voters with cash. Yesterday, he was informed that the pink party had been doling out Rs 5,000, sometimes even Rs 10,000, to each person agreeing to support its candidates. And though there is substantial evidence confirming all of this, he chose not to take any action against the leaders participating in these unethical and illegal activities. Because of the CEO's tacit support, several TRS leaders were seen distributing money to voters in various parts of Telangana even today. Let me remind Mr Shashank Goel that he is an IAS officer and, therefore, a steward of the Indian Constitution. Also, he is working not for the CM and his party but for the Election Commission. So, he must take a stand on all the violations and malpractices of the TRS, and reveal what action will be taken against the party and its leaders like minister Mahmood Ali. He must also disclose whether the minister's vote will be disqualified or not," a livid Sravan insisted.
Reiterating his demand that the CEO take immediate action, the AICC spokesperson also appealed to the Chief Election Commissioner of India to intervene in the matter, and to ensure that the CEO take the necessary action against the ruling party. He also called for a thorough enquiry into the violations, stating that exposing and addressing the same was necessary to protect and restore democracy in Telangana from the "brutal and unjust" rule of the CM and his family.