Telangana Municipal Polls: Complaints galore of Congress using money, muscle power ahead of municipal polls

Allegations of money and muscle power against the ruling Congress party have surfaced during municipal elections across Telangana. Opposition parties claim voter influence, intimidation of candidates and selective police action, while Congress leaders have denied the charges amid rising political tension.

Hyderabad: Like in the Gram Panchayat elections, complaints of the ruling Congress party allegedly using money and muscle power in the municipal elections to influence voters and opposition candidates are being reported from across the State.

At a few places, Congress leaders were reportedly caught distributing money to voters. In other areas, opposition party candidates were allegedly warned against contesting the elections, with pressure being exerted through money and muscle power.

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There are also complaints that police and election squads are specifically targeting opposition candidates by conducting searches at their offices and residences. In Bichkunda municipality, locals reportedly caught Jukkal MLA T Laxmikantha Rao campaigning even after the stipulated deadline of 5 pm on Monday.

Tension prevailed in the area after locals and BRS workers objected to the Congress MLA and his followers allegedly trying to influence voters. In a similar instance, videos of Congress MLA Ramdas Naik campaigning in the 14th ward of Vyra municipality in Khammam district are being circulated on social media. He was reportedly seen appealing to voters even after 5 pm.

At Makthal in Narayanpet district, BJP candidate Mahadevappa allegedly died by suicide, unable to bear the pressure exerted by local Congress leaders. Former MLA Balka Suman charged that police were specifically targeting BRS candidates and leaders in Chennur municipality. While police were free to conduct searches, he questioned why only BRS leaders were being targeted.
Despite several complaints about the distribution of money and liquor by Congress leaders, particularly at Labour Minister G Vivek Venkatswamy’s camp office, police were not taking any action, he alleged.

In another incident, police ordered BRS candidates to close the party office in the 11th division of Bandamidipally in Mahabubnagar and directed them to vacate the premises. BRS leaders complained that the Congress office located close to the BRS office was spared, while only the BRS office was targeted. They alleged that the official machinery was extending undue support to the ruling party candidate.