Press Release
Hyderabad, July 9, 2014: YSR Congress party has on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to the state election commission seeking stringent action against officials and TDP leaders who resorted to malpractices in the elections to the chairpersons of the Municipal and local bodies and also de-recognition of the TDP for abetting the blatant murder of democracy. The representation, signed by the party President Sri Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, was handed over to the state election commissioner P.Ramakantha Reddy by a party delegation led by senior leader Dr. M.V.Mysura Reddy. The following is the full text of the letter.
July 9, 2014
To
Sri Ramakantha Reddy
State Election Commissioner
Govt of Andhra Pradesh
HYDERABAD
Respected Sir,
Sub: Request for stern action against TDP and its leaders for blatantly violating constitution and openly indulging in undemocratic and unfair practices during the elections to the chairpersons of municipalities and MPPs and ZP chairpersons – Reg.
We hereby bring it to your kind notice that the TDP leaders, with the open support of the senior officials and misusing the entire government machinery, had resorted to unfair practices, illegalities and unconstitutional means during the elections of chairpersons to the Municipalities, MPPs and ZP chairpersons held on July 3, 4 and 5 respectively across Andhra Pradesh to gain undue majority and take forcible control of the municipalities, MPPs and ZP chairpersons in places where the ruling party was in clear minority.
While the Kurnool district officials, acting as the agents of the TDP, illegally arranged fencing in the voting hall during the election of Kurnool ZP chairperson for intimidating the YSRCP members who were earlier kidnapped, threatened and also lured by the TDP leaders.
In Nellore ZP chairperson elections our members were threatened in the broad day light resulting in chaos and forcing its postponement. While after MPTCs were made to kidnap, these people right in front of police officials and media persons present in ZP election hall attempted to poach our members. While Venkatagiri TDP MLA along with other TDP leaders also entered the hall where elections were being held and created ruckus.
It is aghast to note that that even high ranking officials like Collectors and SPs of some districts remained mute spectators when TDP men barged into the opposition benches and physically dragged over YSRCP members towards their benches, despite strong resistance from members. As if this is not enough, TDP-supporting non-voters were allowed by officials into the voting hall during the election to the Prakasam ZP chairperson disturbing the voting and forcing its postponement.
Karanam Balaram, a TDP leader, along with several of his henchmen bid to gain a forcible entry into the committee room in Ongole where elections were being held for the post of Chairman and Vice-chairman, Prakasam District Zilla Parishad and terrorized everybody with dire consequences if YSRCP members did not vote for TDP candidate.
While the fact remains that election to civic bodies and local bodies were held on party symbols, it is obvious to anyone and everyone, including election officials, to know that which member belongs to which party.
However, district officials had conveniently ignored the fact and made arrangements in such a way that YSRCP members have less chairs in election halls than its total strength while TDP members have more chairs than their strength. This has been done intentionally and with an ulterior motive to facilitate poaching of YSRCP members.
These kinds of undemocratic and unlawful acts perpetrated by officials by joining hands with TDP members made the whole election process a mockery of democracy. The election officers in Municipal chairpersons and Mandal president’s election also behaved in the same way.
In all the three incidents, YSRCP members and leaders were subjected to a wave of terror by the TDP functionaries who were hand in glove with the elections officials.
Earlier, Government-supported TDP cadres had created a reign of terror in several Mandals and municipalities too and indulged in kidnapping, intimidating and threatening acts in the chairperson elections with the open and active connivance of the election officials.
Senior officials including district collectors and SPs who should work on behalf of the state election commission and discharge their duties in an impartial manner posed as TDP activists and worked for the illegal and unconstitutional victory of TDP candidates by facilitating defections and intimidation of YSRCP members.
In view of the above, we request you to take the following steps to render justice to the cause of democracy and its preservation.
1. Should appoint observers to oversee the conduct of election process in a fair and democratic manner for Nellore and Prakasam districts ZP chairmen, vice-chairmen as well as chairmen and presidents of Municipalities and Mandals where elections are due.
2. We demand stringent action against officials including district collectors and SPs who connived with TDP functionaries and facilitated defections and who remained mute spectators to the atrocities of TDP leaders.
3. De-recognition of TDP for aiding and abetting kidnapping of YSRCP members and luring them with monetary and other benefits to gain majority in its favor.
With highest regards
Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy
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