BRS slams Congress for election code violation, demands action against Deputy CM

The BRS has accused Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Congress leaders of poll code violations in Jubilee Hills, alleging voter influence and attacks on its cadre. The CEO confirmed action against non-local leaders and said polling was peaceful.

Hyderabad: The BRS on Tuesday demanded immediate action against Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and other Congress leaders for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct during polling in the Jubilee Hills by-election.

In a strongly worded statement, the BRS said Bhatti Vikramarka’s visit to the constituency was a disgrace to democracy, accusing him of influencing voters and misusing official position during the polling process. “The Deputy Chief Minister, along with other Ministers and party leaders, lured voters with money and resorted to open violations of election rules,” the statement read.

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The party also alleged that Congress supporters attacked voters who questioned these irregularities, while the police and election officials remained silent. BRS leaders said such behavior has eroded public confidence in the electoral system.

A BRS delegation lodged a formal complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer at BRK Bhavan, on large-scale election code violations and attacks by the ruling Congress against the BRS cadre, in Jubilee Hills bypoll. The BRS leaders said non-local leaders were distributing cash and attempting to influence voters.

Speaking to mediapersons, Former BRS MLA Bollam Mallaiah Yadav said the police were acting like Congress agents, turning a blind eye to blatant misconduct. He stated that Congress leaders were trying to intimidate voters out of fear of defeat, adding that people would respond to Congress hooliganism through their votes.

“Despite filing over 60 complaints with the Election Commission, no effective action has been taken. Leaders like Beerla Ilaiah, Ramachandra Naik, Shankar Naik, and Gutha Amit Reddy were caught red-handed violating rules,” he charged.

Meanwhile, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) C Sudarshan Reddy said he had taken a serious view of the presence of non-local leaders in the constituency and ordered that cases be registered against them. He confirmed that three FIRs had been filed so far.

The CEO stated that EVMs were replaced at nine polling stations due to technical snags during mock polling and that paramilitary forces were deployed in sensitive areas. Polling was reported to be peaceful, with 20.76 per cent voter turnout recorded till 11 a.m.