The seizure of Rs.137 crore of unaccounted money, in connection with the general elections held in the 13 districts of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday, is a ‘blot on democracy’, according to Lok Satta State vice-president Bheesetty A. Babji.
The seizure of the huge amount of money and huge quantities of liquor, obviously meant to bribe voters, indicated that the major political parties like the Telugu Desam and the YSR Congress were ready to stoop to any level for success in the elections, Mr. Babji told the media here on Thursday.
Describing the trend as ‘unfortunate’, he felt that the amount seized by the police was Rs.137 crore, the amount which could have escaped police attention could have been much more. He alleged that Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu and YSRC president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy had given the party tickets to candidates with ‘shady character’. He also alleged that some media channels and major newspapers had supported political parties and their candidates based on their own perceptions and failed to ‘reflect the opinion of the voters’.
Mr. Babji said that Mr. Naidu and Mr. Jagan, who spoke against corruption, money power and collapse of system, had taken recourse to those evils to improve their prospects. They divided the people on caste lines and make a mockery of the general elections. He alleged that even some of the media organisations had projected the elections as a fight between two dominant caste groups. He said that those who stood for principles in politics were sidelined by the media.
The LSP leader, however, had a word of praise for the police and the district administration in general and the District Collector Solomon Arokiaraj and Police Commissioner B. Shivadhar Reddy for their good work in seizing the unaccounted money and liquor.
LSP leader M.S.N. Murthy was present.
