BRS moves EC against Congress’ plot to influence Jubilee Hills bypoll with fake voter IDs, cash

The BRS has accused the ruling Congress of large-scale electoral malpractice in the Jubilee Hills bypoll, alleging distribution of fake voter IDs, cash, sarees, and other inducements. The party has urged the EC to deploy central forces for a fair election

Hyderabad: Continuing its fight against the alleged large-scale electoral malpractices by the ruling Congress, the BRS on Monday once again approached the election authority seeking official action.

A BRS delegation led by former Minister and senior MLA T Harish Rao met Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) C Sudharshan Reddy and lodged a formal complaint against the massive electoral fraud by the ruling Congress ahead of Jubilee Hills by-election. They said the Congress was violating election norms and distributing fake voter IDs, cash and gifts to influence the bypoll.

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Speaking to mediapersons after submitting a representation to the CEO at BRK Bhavan here, Harish Rao said the ruling Congress had printed and distributed fake voter identity cards on a large scale to manipulate polling. “We have submitted video evidence showing stacks of fake voter IDs being circulated. What are the election officials and police doing when such blatant violations are happening in plain sight?” he asked, reiterating the party’s demand for urgent deployment of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) to ensure a fair and free election.

The BRS leader said the Congress was distributing over one lakh sarees, mixer grinders, liquor and cash among inducements across the constituency to influence voters. “We have submitted photo and video evidence to the Election Commission in this regard. We have even lodged complaints on the C-Vigil app and also shared the evidence with officials over WhatsApp. Yet, no visible action has been taken,” he said.

Despite multiple complaints filed through the C-Vigil app, local police stations and also officials on election duty, no action was taken, he said.

The BRS urged the Election Commission of India to deploy central forces in sensitive polling booths, appoint women police personnel and ASHA, Anganwadi workers to ensure strict voter identity verification to prevent impersonation.

Harish Rao said the party had also submitted proof of fake voter IDs and objected to the location of a polling booth next to the Congress office in Yousufguda, and sought immediate relocation.

He took a swipe at Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s sudden decision to review Congress government’s six guarantees promised for implementation during the 2023 Assembly elections. “The Chief Minister has failed to review the six guarantees for two years, but suddenly does it now, which is clearly to influence voters in Jubilee Hills. These desperate tactics expose his fear of defeat,” he said.