The Election Commission on Monday sought a report from Warangal collector on alleged reference of religion by Telangana Rashtra Samiti president K. Chandrasekhar Rao in his election speeches. Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal was reacting to a complaint made by the Bharatiya Janata Party against the TRS president, who, the party said, tried to instigate voters in the name of religion.
The BJP said Mr Rao gave a call to Muslims in Parkal to take revenge for the loss of a Muslim candidate in Mahbubnagar by defeating the BJP in the bypolls in Parkal. “The statement is nothing but provocative and amounts to creating hatred between two communities,” the BJP delegation complained to the EC. Significantly, the political leaders continue to refer to religion in election speeches despite a stern warning given by Election Commissioner H.S. Brahma during his recent visit to the state.
Meanwhile, Mr Bhanwar Lal told mediapersons that a report on alleged violation of code by the Chief Minister was sent to the EC. The Chief Minister criticised Kadapa MP Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for insulting Hindu traditions and appealed to voters not to violate the sanctity of Tirupati by voting for the YSR Congress.
Meanwhile, the EC transferred Visakhapatnam DIG Soumya Mishra and posted Swathi Lakra in her place. Though Ms Mishra was in the post for more than three years, the government did not move her. The EC found out the lapse and ordered the immediate shifting of the official. The CEO said 20 candidates filed nominations on Tuesday taking the total number of nominations filed so far to 35. The authorities seized Rs 16.9 crore so far and arrested 2,786 persons for smuggling liquor.