RS Praveen Kumar seeks SEC action over ‘Congress excesses’ in civic polls

BRS general secretary RS Praveen Kumar accused the Congress of misusing power during municipal elections and urged the SEC to ensure transparency in upcoming mayor and chairperson polls. He also alleged police interference and political collusion

Hyderabad: RS Praveen Kumar, general secretary of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, accused the ruling Indian National Congress of large-scale misuse of power and anarchy during the recent municipal elections. He urged the Telangana State Election Commission (SEC) to ensure transparency in the election of chairpersons and mayors scheduled on Monday by preventing undemocratic practices in local bodies facing a hung verdict.

Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan on Sunday, Praveen Kumar accused Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy of retaining key portfolios such as Municipal Administration and Home to influence the poll process. He claimed the elections were conducted in haste within a week and that official machinery was misused to secure victories.

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He said the SEC failed to act even after the Chief Minister allegedly sought votes at a government event in Vikarabad in violation of the Model Code of Conduct. “Despite the BRS submitting evidence, no action has been taken,” he said.

Referring to polling day incidents, the BRS leader accused Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee working president T Jagga Reddy in Sangareddy and Dharmapuri Arvind in Nizamabad of abusing police personnel. He said Jagga Reddy entered a polling booth with supporters and created a disturbance, and questioned why no immediate arrests were made.

He alleged attempts to influence outcomes in hung municipalities, citing Ibrahimpatnam and Cheriyala as examples of police interference and harassment of BRS candidates. He questioned the grant of ex-officio voting rights, with their votes being added overnight in some places.

Praveen Kumar said whips issued by the BRS were being ignored to benefit defectors to the Congress. He also alleged collusion between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party in certain municipalities.

Thanking voters, Praveen Kumar said the BRS won 788 wards with over 30 per cent vote share. He dismissed reports suggesting a lower share and accused sections of the media of targeting the BRS with ulterior motives.