- BRS files complaint with Election Commission over misuse of police
- Dasoju Sravan alleges large-scale rigging, fake voter operations
Hyderabad, November 8: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC Dr. Dasoju Sravan accused the ruling Congress party of orchestrating systematic electoral malpractices ahead of the Jubilee Hills by-election on November 11. He alleged that the Congress, fearing defeat, was violating the Model Code of Conduct and attempting to undermine democracy through widespread irregularities.
Dr. Sravan said the party had gathered evidence showing that Congress leaders were manipulating the electoral process by misusing the police and administrative machinery. Along with BRS General Secretary R.S. Praveen Kumar and former MLA J. Jeevan Reddy, he submitted a representation to the Election Commission of India, urging immediate intervention. The memorandum highlighted a pattern of misuse of power, electoral violations, and voter intimidation reportedly carried out under government supervision.
Speaking to the media, Sravan alleged that the police and task force officials in Jubilee Hills were colluding with Congress leaders to suppress BRS workers. “The law enforcement machinery, instead of ensuring free and fair elections, is being used to intimidate and assault our cadres,” he said. According to him, several BRS supporters faced illegal detention and harassment, which created fear and disrupted campaign activities. He described the situation as a direct assault on the democratic process.
He further criticised Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s birthday celebrations, calling them gross violations of the election code. “In the name of celebrations, Congress held feasts, cut cakes, and distributed sarees to voters,” he said. Sravan added that such acts amounted to open bribery conducted in violation of election laws while officials and police turned a blind eye. He urged the Election Commission to take serious note of the violations.
According to the BRS MLC, Congress was running a coordinated operation involving bogus voters to rig the by-election. He alleged that outsiders were being housed in function halls across Shaikpet, Rahmathnagar, Yousufguda, Erragadda, and Borabanda with fake voter cards prepared to enable booth capturing. He also claimed that local police were protecting these groups. The BRS, he said, identified several areas including Gulshan Colony, Mini Gulshan Colony, and Paramount Colony as “highly sensitive zones” due to the risk of rigging.
Sravan also alleged that AIMIM members were aiding Congress in the bogus voting operation. He named AIMIM MLA Kausar Moinuddin, leader Yaser Arafat, MLC Rahmath Baig, and corporator Rasheed Faraz among those “running illegal camps with the help of police.” He also pointed to the involvement of Congress ministers Jupally Krishna Rao and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy in these alleged irregularities.
The BRS called the situation a threat to democracy and demanded strong action from the Election Commission. It sought prohibitory orders against Congress and AIMIM leaders entering the constituency after November 9, seizure of fake voter cards, and deployment of Central Armed Police Forces in sensitive areas. The party also requested CCTV monitoring and verification of women voters to check fake voter participation.
Dr. Sravan concluded that unless immediate steps were taken, the legitimacy of the electoral process in Telangana would be seriously compromised. “It is the constitutional duty of the Election Commission under Article 324 to ensure free and fair elections,” he said, warning that continued silence from authorities would erode public faith in the democratic system.
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