TRS Violating Election Code, Congress Tells EC

A team of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee comprising spokesman B Kamalakar Rao and A Shyam Mohan today complained to the Election Commission that the ruling TRS was violating the code of conduct and misusing the official machinery besides trying to lure voters with free stuff, in its efforts to win the Palair Assembly by-election to be held on May 16.

The Congress leaders met Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal and urged him to prevent the TRS from violating the poll code. In a memorandum submitted to the EC, the Congress leaders accused the TRS of indulging in misuse of the official machinery and distributing liquor freely to influence the voters. They alleged that the TRS workers and leaders were also distributing money, especially in the villages that were the Congress' strongholds, and also trying to lure the voters by making false promises.

The leaders requested the CEO to depute Central Election Observers and deploy paramilitary forces to ensure a fear-free environment and give confidence to the tribal voters.

Bhanwar Lal said that every possible step would be taken to ensure that the Palair by-election was conducted in a free and fair manner. The officials had seized Rs 24 lakhs and a huge quantity of liquor so far from various places in this regard, he added.