TRS determined to nail Naidu in ‘cash for vote’ scam

Party reportedly waiting for the next move from the TDP camp on the Revanth scandal

June 04, 2015 12:00 am | Updated November 17, 2021 01:06 am IST - HYDERABAD:

Telangana Home Minister Naini Narsimha Reddy’s stunning disclosure that the police have the audio conversation between Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and the nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson is being seen as a determined bid by the TRS government to nail the TDP chief in the ‘cash for vote’ scandal in which TDP MLA A. Revanth Reddy has been arrested.

Convinced that they can put the AP Chief Minister in a spot by making the audio tape public, the TRS leadership, according to highly places sources, is waiting for the next move from the TDP camp on the Revanth episode. Ironically, for the TDP supremo, it appears to be an attempt to woo the dissident legislators in the TRS which boomeranged.

Sources, who did not wish to be identified, told The Hindu how the ‘Cash for Vote’ episode culminated in the arrest of Mr. Revanth Reddy by the ACB sleuths on May 31 from the residence of nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson.

Those in the knowledge of the case say that attempts were made through mediators to woo disgruntled TRS legislators to indulge in cross voting in the June 1 election to the Legislative Council. At least 15 TRS legislators, who were reportedly unhappy with the state of affairs in their constituencies, were allegedly identified by the mediators. On a tip off, a close watch was kept on these legislators by the TRS.

Once the TRS leadership smelt something amiss about the attempts to lure its MLAs, it got into the act to thwart any bid that would have led to the defeat of its fifth candidate.

In the process, they stumbled upon some mediators getting in touch with the nominated MLA. Once it was established that Mr. Revanth Reddy was in touch, the trap was allegedly laid to catch the TDP legislator red handed. The rest is history when the TDP MLA literally walked into the trap.

Sources said that during the monsoon session of the Assembly, the TRS legislators may seek a debate on the ‘cash for vote’. It is for the Speaker to take a call on this.

He can either allow a debate on the floor of the House or refer the issue to the Ethics or Privileges Committee of the Assembly. The mood of the House will prevail in taking a decision, sources said.

In a related development, it is understood that the TDP too has dropped its plan to take disciplinary action against Mr. Revanth Reddy.

The party initially is said to have contemplated suspending the MLA for some time as it had done in the case of former Minister Krishna Yadav, after he was caught in the fake stamp paper scam. But the move was learnt to have been dropped and the party is now waiting for the MLA’s bail petition to come up before the court.

For the record, the Telangana Advocates’ JAC has petitioned the ACB to include the AP Chief Minister as accused number one akin to a similar demand by the YSR Congress.

The Advocates’ JAC is also reported to be mulling to file a case in a court if ACB did not concede its demand.

Party reportedly waiting for the next move from the TDP camp on the

Revanth scandal

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