BJP accuses KCR, KTR of mocking democracy

Hyderabad: State BJP president Dr K. Laxman on Tuesday alleged that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and his minister son K.T. Rama Rao had made mockery of democracy by grabbing coveted posts in the municipalities and corporations in an undemocratic manner. Addressing a press conference at the state party office here, Dr Laxman alleged that the ruling party leaders had adopted undemocratic and unconstitutional methods to grab the posts in the civic bodies where the BJP had a majority.

He said 2020 would be the “agitation year” for the party against the “anti-people policies” of the TRS. The GHMC elections would be the semi-final for the party and the final would be the Assembly elections in 2023.

Terming Mr Chandrasekhar Rao and Mr Rama Rao as “political opportunists”, Dr Laxman said the TRS had indulged in various tactics to win the elections including violation of norms, distribution of money to lure voters and misusing official machinery. He said the performance of the BJP was was very encouraging as it had contested these elections without an alliance for the first time. Dr Laxman said the party had increased its vote percentage and number of seats.

Referring to the Thukkuguda municipality, where the TRS grabbed the council with ex-officio votes, he said the name of TRS Rajya Sabha member Dr K. Kesava Rao was originally listed for the Badangpet municipality. At the last minute, officials under pressure from the TRS changed it and allotted the vote to Thukkuguda.

Dr Laxman questioned how Dr Kesava Rao could vote as an ex-officio member in Telangana state when he was allotted Andhra Pradesh as per the Parliament bulletin.

He said that the party had lodged a complaint with the State Election Commission and would lodge a complaint with President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, who is also Rajya Sabha Chairman. He demanded the cancellation of the election of the chairman and vice-chairman posts of Thukkuguda municipality.

Dr Laxman said that the party would continue its fight against the dictatorial, corrupt and family rule of Mr Chandrasekhar Rao.

He alleged that the TRS usurped the Nizamabad Municipal Corporation mayor’s post by using the votes of ex-officio members and the MIM though the BJP was the single largest party with 28 seats.

Karimnagar MP B. Sanjay Kumar, former DGP V. Dinesh Reddy and other leaders were present.