TDP Leaders met Chief Election Commissioner

New Delhi, March 11, 2019 : Leaders from the Telegu Desam Party (TDP) met with the Chief Election Commissioner, Shri. Sunil Arora, today, March 11, 2019.

To make this representation, from the TDP were Cabinet Ministers Sri. Kalava Srinivasulu and Sri. Nakka Anand Babu, Party National Spokesperson Sri. Kambhampati Rammohan Rao along with Sri. Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar met with the Election Commissioner. The representation requested an intervention to prevent the YSR Congress party and the TRS from engaging in unethical and undemocratic practices for and during the upcoming Parliament and Assembly general elections

The letter clearly stated that, 'The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), which is an opposition party and one of the contesting parties in the State of Andhra Pradesh, with an intention to win the elections by hook or crook is resorting to illegal, unethical and undemocratic methods. YSRCP has joined forces with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and with the support of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is conspiring against the TSP. Given, the declaration of the Model Code of Conduct for the upcoming elections on March 10, 2019, the Hon'ble Election Commission of India is fully empowered to take necessary appropriate actions.' The Hon'ble Election Commission in their powers can ensure that the names of all eligible voters are in the electoral rolls to ensure free and fair elections.

Requesting the EC to act on the misuse of form 7, the requisition said 'YSRCP sought to delete eligible voters from the electoral rolls and include ineligible voters in the rolls. These applications were made in bulk and online by a few individuals through impersonation, forgery and by giving false particulars/information to the authorities. In most cases, the applicants in whose names these applications were submitted, were not even aware of the submission of such applications.' It appears that some of these applications were submitted online outside the State of Andhra Pradesh thereby committing a series of illegalities, irregularities and penal offences.

The letter alleges TRS of deleting voters en masse from the electoral rolls just before the election notification leading to their success in the recently concluded Telangana assembly elections. Taking a leaf out of this book, YSRCP is mirroring the same strategy and process to gain an unfair and illegal advantage in the upcoming elections for the state of Andhra Pradesh.

As part of this process, YSRCP submitted lakhs of applications of Form-7 by gaining access to the personal particulars of targeted voters and submitted fabricated and forged applications by impersonation and giving of false declarations and information to the public authorities with an intention is to delete at least 5 to 10 thousand votes from each Constituency.

The TDP requisition seeks action under sections U/s. 120-B, 177, 182, 192, 193, 468, 469, 471, 416 and 417 IPC, Sec. 66-C of I.T. Act and Sec. 31 of R.P. Act, 1950; and calls these as attempts to blatantly change the voter demographics in order to subvert the democratic process. The letter also notes that Mr. Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has admitted that he instructed the cadre of his party to submit applications of Form-7. Similar admission has also been made by another senior functionary of his party, Mr. Botsa Satyanarayana, which clearly shows that they have misguided the authorities as well as the general public of Andhra Pradesh.

As part of the requisition submitted, Chief Election Commissioner is requested to firstly, conduct a detailed inquiry into the issue of bulk applications of Form-7 and to give directions to the concerned election authorities not to delete any genuine voters without there being a thorough inquiry and physical verification of the said voters.

Secondly, identify the culprits who submitted these bulk applications of Form-7 and take stringent action against them in accordance with law. Thirdly and most importantly, the Telangana Police need to be instructed to not to interfere in the affairs of the State of Andhra Pradesh. Fourthly, take steps to prevent YSRCP from using their in-house media platforms, Sakshi Telugu Daily Newspaper and Sakshi News Channel, as a mouthpiece to publish and broadcast false news and programmes against the political opponents particularly the TDP. Lastly, take steps to prevent Sakshi Telugu Daily Newspaper and Sakshi News Channel from propagating the agenda of YSRCP which amounts to 'paid news'.