Jalagam Venkata Rao wins over Vanama Venkateswara Rao, HC declares election as void

Hyderabad: On Tuesday, Dr Justice G. Radha Rani declared the election of Vanama Venkateswara Rao, the BRS MLA from Kothagudem, Palvancha, as “void” and imposed a fine of Rs. 5 lakhs against the MLA for suppressing certain personal information and filing a false affidavit in his election affidavit.

The petitioner, Jalagam Venkata Rao, was declared as the returned candidate for 117 Kothagudem Assembly constituency with effect from 12 December 2018.

In 2018, Vanama Venkateswara Rao contested on a Congress ticket. After winning the elections, he switched on to the TRS, now the BRS party.

Justice G. Radha Rani was hearing the election petition 31/2019 filed by Jalagam Venkata Rao, a former BRS MLA who challenged the election of Mr. Vanama Venkateswara Rao saying he had resorted to illegal activities during the 2018 elections and won.

Jalagam Venkata Rao sought a direction to the Election Commission of India to permit the release of EVMs and VVPATs used in the 117 Kothagudem Assembly elections in 2018 from the godowns/strong room for their use in future elections, including the Lok Sabha Elections 2019.

He also sought a direction to impose a penalty and imprison Vanama Venkateswara Rao as he had suppressed and concealed some personal information and was not being transparent as was contemplated under Section 125 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.