Congress seeks action against ruling TRS for poll code violation

HYDERABAD: The Congress on Saturday urged chief electoral officer Shashank Goel to take action against the ruling TRS for violating the model code of conduct for the two graduate MLC constituencies.
A delegation of the Congress members led by TPCC president and Nalgonda MP N Uttam Kumar Reddy and party’s election committee chairman Marri Shashidhar Reddy met Shashank Goel and complained to him that the TRS leaders have indulged in various electoral malpractices and irregularities to lure voters in the MLC elections.
Later, speaking to reporters, Uttam alleged that the ruling TRS distributed crores of rupees in cash among voters and that school buses from private educational institutions were being taken forcibly to transport voters.
Uttam said the Congress delegation brought it to the notice of the CEO how the TRS was trying to engage fake voters (those without degrees) to cast their vote and demanded that such practices be prevented. The ruling party is also misusing the postal ballots meant for police personnel on duty to cast votes in favour of TRS candidates, he alleged.
The TPCC chief strongly objected to the ruling TRS using the photo of former Prime Minister Late PV Narasimha Rao for electoral gains. “PV Narasimha Rao was a Congress leader all his life and headed Congress governments as the chief minister and later as the Prime Minister. It is immoral, unethical and illegal on the part of the TRS to seek votes by showcasing Congress icon’s photo. Was it not chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao who used abusive language against Narasimha Rao. After his death, KCR is using his picture to win an election,” Uttam alleged.
The TPCC chief said that the Chief Electoral Officer has assured to inquire into the issues raised by the Congress delegation.
Uttam said the government employees have been demanding a fitment of more than 43%. However, CM KCR has leaked information after a meeting with the union leaders that the government would give 29% fitment. “CM KCR is cheating the employees and he would not even give 29% fitment once the MLC polls are over. Therefore, the employees should give a shock to TRS by voting in favour of Congress if they wish to get a fitment of at least 43%,” Uttam said.
He appealed to all employees, unemployed youth, teachers, women, professionals including doctors, advocates, journalists among others to vote in favour of Congress candidates and inflict a humiliating defeat to TRS and BJP.