BRS accuses Revanth Reddy govt of ‘murdering democracy’ in Jubilee Hills bypoll

BRS leaders launched a fierce attack on Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and the Election Commission, alleging widespread electoral malpractices in the Jubilee Hills by-election. They claimed voter intimidation, bogus voting, and complicity of police and election staff in favour of Congress.

Hyderabad: BRS leaders launched a scathing attack against Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and the Election Commission of India, pointing out multiple instances of large-scale irregularities, voter intimidation and police complicity in the Jubilee Hills by-election. They charged the Revanth Reddy government with murdering democracy by resorting to electoral malpractices.

Addressing a press meet at Telangana Bhavan after the polling concluded on Tuesday, MLC Dasoju Sravan said the election resembled the rigged polls of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, with the Congress inducing voters with cash and gifts as well. Bogus voting was carried out on a large scale with the support of AIMIM and that the Election Commission turned a blind eye, ignoring over 20 complaints by the BRS, he said.

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“Revanth Reddy has lost faith in people. The police stood as mute spectators, while democracy was trampled,” he charged.

Former Minister Koppula Eshwar said police and election staff cooperated with the Congress in stealing votes and committing atrocities on BRS workers who questioned it.

“The Congress and the BJP jointly targeted the BRS. Ministers terrorised voters to stay indoors, while forcing election staff to allow bogus votes even as the EC looked the other way,” he said.

BRS general secretary RS Praveen Kumar accused the ruling party of colluding with officials to facilitate over 20,000 fake votes, while even minors were forced to vote.

“Revanth Reddy has murdered democracy. Yet, people stood with KCR,” he said.

Former Minister C Laxma Reddy said no Chief Minister had ever misused power like Revanth Reddy. He said despite the irregularities, the silent vote was with the BRS. Former MLA A Jeevan Reddy accused the Chief Minister of buying votes with Rs.5,000, calling him a ‘Vote Chor’.

Speaking separately, Rajya Sabha MP Vaddiraju Ravichandra said BRS would lodge formal complaints with the DGP and ECI, against the State police and the State Chief Electoral Officer respectively for aiding the Congress excesses.

“The EC has failed miserably. Lawlessness prevailed in Jubilee Hills,” he said.