Corruption Charges Against D Srinivas

The "cash for post" controversy has badly hit the Telangana Congress, with several leaders demanding a detailed probe into the allegations leveled by MLC Rajalingam against former PCC President D Srinivas.

Rajalingam alleged that Srinivas had offered a bribe of Rs. 10 lakh seeking support for his (Srinivas') candidature for the post of the Congress floor leader in the Telangana Legislative Council.

Following Ramalingam's allegations, several other leaders demanded an enquiry into the allegations.

"The Congress Party lost the recent elections primarily due to the allegations of corruption against a few leaders. The allegations against Srinivas are very serious in nature, and the Congress High Command should be tough and get rid of such corrupt leaders," demanded a senior T-Congress leader.

Another Congress leader recalled that the former PCC President had often been accused of selling party tickets in different elections. In November 2009, several Congress leaders including former MP Sarve Satyanarayana, and former MLAs Raji Reddy and Bhikshapati Yadav, had protested in front of D Srinivas' residence and accused him of selling away the party tickets. While one Congress worker tried to immolate himself, a few others threatened to set Srinivas' house ablaze on the charges of corruption.

Similar allegations were leveled against him in the 2004 elections.

"DS has a habit of indulging in corruption within the Congress party. He will buy top posts by paying bribes to some of his own partymen, and recover the same with huge profits at the time of ticket allocation and other occasions," alleged another Congress leader.

According to sources, AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh and former union minister Vyalar Ravi took serious note of Ramalingam's allegations.

Other MLCs also strongly condemned Srinivas for offering a bribe to secure the post of the floor leader.

"Instead of working under tainted leaders like DS, I prefer quitting the post and the party," threatened one senior MLC.

Although Digvijay Singh and Vylar Ravi did not react to the allegations against Srinivas, they reportedly asked the MLCs to lodge a complaint with the Congress High Command.

However, they were in favour of an internal probe based on Ramalingam's allegations.

A few Congress MLCs are now seeking the intervention of AICC Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on the issue.

"The Congress leadership must take exemplary action against Srinivas to send a strong message that it won't tolerate corruption, within or outside the party," said one T-Congress MLC. (INN)