Naidu demands SEC action against police, YSRC leaders

VIJAYAWADA: Telugu Desam Chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday strongly objected to the manner YSR Congress leaders were resorting to flagrant election offences in connivance with some unscrupulous police officials during the ongoing panchayat elections. He demanded the State Election Commission to take stringent action against all those responsible for poll irregularities in Mittapalli village panchayat in Chittoor district’s Kuppam mandal.

In a letter sent to the Election Commission, Naidu pointed out that a case was filed illegally against TD candidate Sivalakshmi's husband Manjunath. He mentioned that the police booked cases against Manjunath and another party leader Manohar under Sections 448, 323 and 506 and alleged that serious charges of criminal intimidation were made only to cover up their frustration because of lack of public patronage for YSRC in the region.

Naidu demanded the Election Commission to interfere and use its good offices to take action against the errant police officials and also ensure that the false cases filed against Manohar and Manjunath are withdrawn immediately.

He deplored that YSRC was creating disturbances and clashes in an otherwise peaceful constituency like Kuppam. Naidu urged the SEC to keep YSRC candidates, Kalavati and Anjali, away from the poll process since they had withdrawn their nominations paving way for a free and peaceful election in Mittapalli.

Earlier, Naidu asserted that former MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao's fast-unto-death against the privatisation of Visaka Steel Plant  should be a wake-up to the public to prevent the sale of the steel plant. Naidu wanted everyone to register their strong protest and wage a united battle to thwart the privatisation move.