Municipal polls: Naidu seeks explanation from SEC, DGP about YSRCP threats
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) National President N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday sought an explanation from the State Election Commissioner (SEC) and the Director-General of Police (DGP) on the ruling YSRCP threats to prevent the opposition candidates from filing nominations in the civic body elections.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 5 Nov 2021 4:04 AM GMT
Vijayawada: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) National President N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday sought an explanation from the State Election Commissioner (SEC) and the Director-General of Police (DGP) on the ruling YSRCP threats to prevent the opposition candidates from filing nominations in the civic body elections.
"How can the candidates be asked to file their nominations when all others were celebrating the festival? The anarchic regime is deriving sadistic pleasure by hurting religious sentiments as well. Would they hold an election on Christmas? " he asked.
TDP chief said like before, the ruling YSRCP was trying to turn the election to 12 municipalities and one municipal corporation into a farce. The ruling party leaders, police, and officials were directly threatening and asking the opposition candidates not to file nominations. In some cases, nomination papers were being torn off, he said.
"YSRCP village leader was behaving akin to Chief Minister Jagan Reddy. He is behaving like an unlawful person. With their uncontrolled sadism, the YSRCP leaders had turned Andhra Pradesh into a 'State of lunatics'", he said.
TDP chief cautioned the opposition candidates to take maximum precautions to ensure that their nominations would remain valid. "As the officials were trying to invalidate nominations at various stages, the candidates should take the help of advocates and get proper acknowledgment after filing nominations. The copies of their nominations should be mailed to the District Collectors, the SEC, and the election observers," he said.
.Naidu asserted that if the election officials committed any fraud, the TDP would approach the courts and seek the required relief. "The opposition candidates were receiving threats from the ruling YCP and they should record all such calls for evidence before the courts. The general public should also join to prevent the anti-social elements and the YCP goondas from taking democracy for a ride," he said.
Referring to polls in his home constituency Kuppam, Naidu said Punganur commissioner Lokeshwar Varma was appointed special officer for Kuppam in order to rig the elections.
"This officer has started ordering all the Government staff on duty in elections to ensure YSRCP victory openly. Lokeshwar Varma behaved in a criminal way and got all 24 wards in Punganur declared unanimously," he said.
Naidu asked how the SEC could appoint a tainted officer like Varma for Kuppam polls
