Keep TRS Away From Bathukamma Sarees: Congress To EC

The Telangana Congress on Friday asked the Election Commission of India to restrain caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, ministers and other TRS functionaries from distributing the Bathukamma sarees from October 12 in view of the Model Code of Conduct in place in the state.

Citing the circular issued by the ECI regarding the imposition of the code in Telangana, TPCC treasurer Gudur Narayana Reddy said that the election authorities should ensure that the TRS did not take political advantage of the saree distribution.

"The Congress requests you to kindly ensure that the caretaker Chief Minister, ministers and any functionaries of the TRS and other parties are strictly prohibited from any kind of participation in the saree distribution programme. This programme should be conducted solely by the local officials of state government under the direct supervision of the election authorities. Further, we are also in receipt of information that the cover of the Bathukamma sarees, to be distributed among the women of the state, carries a picture of caretaker Chief Minister Mr K Chandrashekar Rao. Therefore, we request you to kindly ensure that no picture, flag, symbol or pink colour (the official colour of the TRS party) is used anywhere in the Bathukamma sarees," he said in a letter to Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar.

Reddy also urged the authorities to distribute the Bathukamma sarees through only Fair Price Shops. "We fear that the ruling TRS party might try to influence the voters if their leaders or workers are involved in the process or if the sarees are distributed at the locations identified by them," he said.