Hyderabad: Telangana Congress accuses AIMIM of rigging, approaches EC

Hyderabad: Telangana Congress has approached the Election Commission against All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) for allegedly resorting to rigging and bogus voting in Chandrayangutta, Charminar and Bahadurpura assembly constituencies.

In a letter to chief electoral officer Vikas Raj, the Congress complained of rigging and unruly behavior in the polling booth.

G Niranjan, senior vice-president and chairman of the Congress Election Commission and co-ordination committee said, “Late last night a complaint was registered as in these constituencies the authorities are unable to check them because of their unruly behavior. This has been done on the directions of Akbaruddin Owaisi and other contesting candidates of AIMIM.”

Congress has asked the authorities to issue instructions to check all the web cameras and also the footage of other cameras in the polling booths and book the culprits.

Niranjan said, “We also demand repolling in these constituencies due to the above reasons.”

Mushtaq Malik, president of Tahreek Muslim Shabban said, “Despite the best efforts there has been rigging and some incidents were even noticed during the day.”

Old City voting

The voting percentage in Old City till 7 pm on November 30 was only 36.9 percent.

Malakpet recorded 36.9 %, Karwan 40.49 %, Goshamahal 45.79 %, Charminar 34.02 %, Chandrayangutta 39 %, Yakutpura 27.89 %, Bahadurpura 39.11 % and Nampally 32 %.

The low voting percentage in Old City also led to arguments between candidates and in Malakpet the Congress candidate Sheikh Akbar and his workers were allegedly attacked by AIMIM candidate Ahmed Balala. The video is doing rounds on social media.

In Yakutpura, the task force police carried out a lathi charge as the supporters of Majlis Bachao Tahreek (MBT) candidate Amjadullah Khan were roaming around in large numbers in Rein Bazar.

Strict policing in Old City during the day made it difficult to use burqa-clad women for alleged bogus voting which has been a constant complaint by Congress candidates in the past against AIMIM. This time the number of burqa-clad women roaming on the streets or coming towards the polling booth was less. This is also being seen as one more reason for less voting.