The YSRCP on Friday filed a complaint with the Returning Officer against Hindupur TDP legislator and actor Nandamuri Balakrishna for ‘distributing’ money during campaigning for the Nandyal byelection.
Speaking to The Hindu , Buggana Rajendranath Reddy, PAC chairman and YSRCP legislator from Dhone, said the party urged the Returning Officer to take action based on the video evidence of Mr. Balakrishna distributing money during his campaign.
The YSRCP also complained against ‘the government’ and consequently the TDP using ‘Community Resource Persons’ attached to Women SHG groups to threaten women in the groups and their families to vote for the TDP candidate ‘failing which the SHG groups concerned wouldn't be refinanced’.
“We have also complained against the high-handed behaviour of the government in arresting YSRCP workers with money in their pockets worth as little as Rs. 3,000. Who can stay in a town and canvass without being able to spend money for everyday expenses. It is a brazen attempt to harass YSRCP cadre”, said Mr. Buggana adding that the party had sought an independent police observer to tackle such high handed behaviour and ‘provide a level playing ground’.
The YSR Congress Party also urged the Returning Officer to protect the secrecy of universal adult franchise enshrined in the Constitution by preventing the ruling party from misusing students drawn from across the State to go to each household ‘under the guise of conducting a survey’ and threatening each of the households with verification of the paper trail produced by the EVM post voting and thereby deciding the benefits to be given or withdrawn to a family voting against the ruling party candidate.
