Telangana Rashtra Samithi working president K.T. Rama Rao has said the frustration of A.P. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was an indication of his imminent defeat and he can’t hide under the failures of electronic voting machines (EVMs).
“If he wins will he accept that EVMs were responsible,” he asked in an informal chat with the reporters here on Sunday. He also took objection to the words used by Mr. Naidu against Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and YSRCP president Jaganmohan Reddy. “Behaviour of both the persons has been dignified while Mr. Naidu was unnecessarily targeting them,” he said.
Supporting polling through EVMs, KTR said it doesn’t make a difference if the elections were held through ballot paper or EVMs.
Mr. Rama Rao defended the change in poll percentages in Telangana on the second day stating that it is a regular process as percentage given at 5 p.m. immediately after the polling time are not final. One can check the poll percentages in the last 10 years and see the difference.
Medak majority
The TRS working president said the party expects the highest majority in Medak followed by Warangal while Karimnagar may figure in the third or fourth spot. Congress will lose its deposits in some while it will be relegated to third position in several constituencies.
Stating that BJP’s ideology has no place in Telangana, he was surprised that the IT department gave clean chit to seizure of ₹ 8 crore cash from BJP leaders within two days. “How can such huge amount be withdrawn from the bank when election code was in force,” he asked.
Local body elections
Mr. Rama Rao said the government’s decision to conduct MPTC and ZPTC elections by May 23 was to ensure that in the next four-and-a-half years they can concentrate on development without any hindrance. Municipal elections will be held later as the Chief Minister wants to bring in an effective Municipal Act to reduce scope for corruption. Moreover, Assembly has to give consent to the new Bill.
He said the effort for Federal Front was on and there was no way the BJP or Congress led groups will form the government at the Centre.
