Congress candidates demand return of cash, gifts after municipal poll losses

After losing in municipal elections, several Congress candidates in Telangana allegedly demanded voters return money and gifts given during campaigning. Videos of such incidents went viral, drawing criticism and raising questions over poll practices and ethics

Hyderabad: After losing in the municipal elections, Congress candidates in different places are demanding that voters return the money and gifts given to them ahead of the polls. In the process, the candidates have not only taken many by surprise but have also admitted to resorting to malpractices such as distributing money to influence voters.

Videos and photographs of Congress candidates demanding that residents in different areas return money and gifts are being circulated widely on social media.

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In one such video pertaining to the 12th ward of Mudichintala municipality in Medchal-Malkajgiri district, Congress candidate M Jyothi, who lost to a BRS candidate, was seen visiting households along with her followers and demanding that residents return the sarees and money offered during the polls. Similarly, in Yadadri Bhongir municipality, Congress candidate Swaroopa Rani and her family members were seen insisting that voters return gifts, including sarees and money, that were given to them. However, residents raised objections to the Congress candidate’s approach and argued with her followers, stating that the gifts were offered voluntarily and not demanded by voters. As the arguments escalated and the situation began to turn tense, the Congress leaders left the place.

Earlier, in Mancherial, a BJP candidate who lost the election to the Mancherial Municipal Corporation allegedly took back cash that he had earlier distributed to voters. A video clip showing the incident surfaced on social media platforms on Saturday. Jadi Thirupathi contested on a BJP ticket from Division No. 9 in Seetharampalli under the Mancherial Municipal Corporation and was defeated by the Congress candidate by a margin of 16 votes. He is alleged to have distributed Rs 3,000 per vote.

In Kothagudem, a Congress candidate, Minda Haribabu, who had demanded that voters return the money and pressure cookers he distributed, suspecting that they had not voted for him, was elected from Ward 10 in Aswaraopet municipality. Voters claimed that he had distributed Rs 2,500 and a pressure cooker to each family voluntarily while seeking votes.