Chittoor parliament TDP candidate complains to returning officer about disparities in enforcement of model code

TIRUPATI: Chittoor parliament TDP candidate and retired IRS bureaucrat Daggumalla Prasad Rao complained to the election commission and the returning officer about disparities in the enforcement of the model code of conduct in the parliament constituency.

Speaking to reporters at Chittoor on Sunday, Daggumalla Prasad Rao said a team of election flying squad stormed into his residence early this morning and created ruckus without producing any search warrant. They returned back after they couldn't find anything and took my signatures on the panchanama at the end of the search.

"While the election officials are supposed to abide by the rules and discharge their duties in a free and fair manner, some officials who are still hand on glove with the ruling YSRCP are trying their best to derail the smooth election process by resorting to acts of targeting the candidates contesting on a TDP ticket. Such acts cannot be tolerated, which is why I lodged a complaint with the returning officer on the episode", the TDP candidate reaffirmed.

Daggumalla Prasad Rao cited the incident in which three TDP activists who were returning back after attending poll campaign, were roughed up by the ruling party leaders last night.

"The local police took away the mobile phones of the victims and booked cases on them instead of taking the accused involved in the attack into custody. If the election commission ignores such incidents, how can they ensure a free and fair election", Daggumalla Prasad Rao questioned.

Clarifying that he will strictly abide by the ECI guidelines as a law abiding representative, the TDP candidate appealed to the EC to intervene and crack the whip against the errant officials deviating from the poll guidelines, in order to restore faith in the system.