‘Cancel Huzurabad byelection’
The Hindu
Congress takes the issue to New Delhi
Congress has taken the Huzurabad bypoll to the national capital with a delegation of the Telangana Congress meeting the Election Commission of India and demanding cancellation of the bypoll, alleging that the TRS and the BJP, the ruling parties in the State and at the Centre, were resorting to brazen abuse of power.
The delegation consisting of AICC national spokesperson Dasoju Sravan, AICC Secretary (Organisation) Challa Vamshichand Reddy, former TPCC working president, J Kusuma Kumar and TPCC general secretary H Venugopal Rao, met the ECI and presented ‘evidence on violation of rules, misuse of power, illegal and unconstitutional practices and distribution of money’.
“It is extremely disheartening that TRS and BJP are resorting to brazen abuse of power and obstructing the conduct of a free and fair election, demeaning democracy. Distribution of cash, gifts like saris, utensils, sports kits, watches, silver and gold ornaments, two-wheelers, four-wheelers and other expensive items was done,” Mr. Sravan said at a news conference later. He said that instead of conducting elections, the EC should auction MLA and MP seats.
The election authorities are gearing up for the counting of votes cast in the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled to be held on June 4. The Collectors and Election Officers of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli and Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) districts said on May 23 (Thursday) that their teams were ready for the counting of votes.
Responding to the prolonged water scarcity, the residents of the area took to the streets in protest on Wednesday. The protest, which drew attention to their plight, stopped only after the intervention of the police. It was not until 1.30 p.m. that a 4000-litre tanker was finally delivered by BWSSB, providing relief to the water-starved residents.