Cash-for-vote: K Chandrasekhar Rao briefs Narendra Modi, Rajnath Singh on scam
Hyderabad: The next move of the ACB investigating the cash-for-vote scam including the alleged phone conversation of AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu with MLA Elvis Stephenson will most likely trigger new developments next week.
Read: Cash-for-vote scam: ACB court finds Revanth Reddy case valid
Sources said the Telangana Chief Minister has already “informed” the developments to both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Rajnath Singh two days ago. Sources also deny reports in a section of the media that Mr Modi has asked Mr Rao not to precipitate the issue further warranting naming Mr Naidu in the scam as accused.
“There is no truth in these reports, our Chief Minister is very firm. Even on Friday night in the Nalgonda meeting he said Mr Naidu will soon land in jail. We firmly believe the ACB will name Mr Naidu as accused and the law will take its own course,” one key minister in the TRS government told this newspaper on Saturday.
Read: Cash for vote scam: Audio-video material sent to FSL to ascertain their authenticity
Despite a series of meetings with Central ministers including Mr Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah by Mr Naidu, there has been no word from any leader of the BJP throwing their weight behind him.
“The Central Intelligence Bureau reports are the ears of Prime Minister and Home Minister. IB sleuths have already submitted reports on the cash-for-vote scam based on their independent inquiries. Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan also submitted his version on the issue, so we believe the Modi government simply will not jump into an expression of solidarity with Mr Naidu till his involvement is cleared either by the investigating agency or the Courts. We will restrict ourselves to the role of onlookers,” a senior BJP leader said.
Read: Cash-for-vote scam: Anti-Corruption Bureau raids homes of TDP MLA Revanth Reddy, 2 others
Meanwhile, the reports in a section of the media that Mr Narasimhan is going to convene a joint meeting with the two Chief Ministers for a patch-up also now appears untrue. The Governor returned to the state from Delhi on Friday morning. Neither of the Chief Ministers turned up nor is there any move by the Governor to invite them. Even the Governor is waiting for the next move by ACB, a Raj Bhavan source said.
