APCC president N. Raghuveera Reddy, former Union Ministers Kotla Jayasuryaprakash Reddy and J.D. Seelam, and APCC vie-president N. Tulasi Reddy lodged a complaint with Election Commission’s observer Himanshu Chowdary in Nandyal on Sunday, alleging unbridled distribution of money and liquor among the voters by the TDP and the YSR Congress Party in violation of the code of conduct and enclosed audio and video evidences to substantiate their charges.
The Congress leaders staged a demonstration before the office of the Returning Officer for the Nandyal byelection Prasanna Venkatesh, demanding that the election be cancelled as the atmosphere was vitiated with threats and counter-threats, and there was no scope for a free and fair election. They also sought a CBI inquiry into the black money being lavishly spent to attract the voters.
Alleging that the two parties had spent ₹200 crore in Nandyal, the Congress leaders said TDP candidate Bhuma Brahmananda Reddy showed an election expenditure of ₹3.82 lakh and YSRCP candidate Silpa Mohan Reddy ₹5.68 lakh so far.
Officials and police seized ₹18.76 lakh so far, compared to the hefty sums spent, they asserted. Crores of rupees changed hands to muster support of leaders of various cadres, they alleged.
Accusing Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of promising ₹5,000 per vote, they alleged that the two parties were giving between ₹1,000 and ₹5,000 and household goods to voters.
Threats, counter-threats
They alleged violation of the model code of conduct as the two parties were conducting caste-wise meetings, showering promises and giving money to community leaders.
Leaders were making vituperative remarks, instigating people and breaching peace in Nandyal, they said. The complaint was also forwarded to the Chief Election Commissioner and Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal, the APCC president said.
