Revanth Urges United Fight Against ‘Vote Theft’, Warns of Threat to Democracy
Revanth Reddy pointed out the large-scale deletion of voters and the sudden addition of one crore new votes within four months, allegedly to tilt the Bihar elections.
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Saturday urged like-minded political forces to unite in the fight against "vote theft" and to protect the democratic values that form the foundation of the country. He cautioned warned that the ruling alliance at the Centre was exploiting the Election Commission of India to maintain their grip on power.
"Those in power at the Centre are attempting to consolidate their hold by manipulating the Election Commission to suit their own agenda. They are removing voters who do not align with their interests, which threatens the very core of India’s Parliamentary democracy," Revanth Reddy said at a meeting for CPI national leader and former MP Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy who passed away recently.
The Chief Minister highlighted what he called the alarming trend of removing voters from electoral rolls and generating millions of new ones in a short span. He pointed to the manipulation in Bihar voter lists as a case in point and expressed his concern over the growing pattern of disenfranchisement.
“Rahul Gandhi has already raised his voice against vote theft. It’s crucial that all political forces rally behind him to safeguard our democracy from these dangerous forces,” Revanth Reddy said.
He also cautioned that the Centre was working on a larger conspiracy to alter the Constitution, a move that could potentially destabilise the country in the long run. Highlighting the need for Communist parties to continue their struggle for the people’s rights, the CM asserted, "Communism is not just about reading ideological books but about standing strong for the people’s rights. The communist ideology must be spread far and wide.”
The Chief Minister paid tribute to Sudhakar Reddy’s unwavering commitment to the communist ideology, recalling his tireless work for the party and society. He also mentioned Sudhakar Reddy’s significant contributions to the Left movement and said that leaders like him were needed in the political landscape.
Revanth Reddy also fondly recalled Sudhakar Reddy’s historic role in fighting against the oppressive Nizam rule. He recognised the contributions of leaders such as Prathap Reddy and Burgula Ramakrishna Rao, who brought prestige to Mahbubnagar, and noted the emergence of strong leaders like S Jaipal Reddy and Sudhakar Reddy in subsequent generations.
The CM said that the Cabinet finalise a decision to honour Sudhakar Reddy for his immense contributions. He said that the government’s decision to rename the Telugu University after Suravaram Prathap Reddy was on the advise of Sudhakar Reddy. In addition, the CM highlighted the importance of recognising the sacrifices made by key figures in Telangana’s history, mentioning the naming of the Women’s University after Chakali Ailamma and the establishment of the Indian Institute of Handloom after Konda Laxman Bapuji.