TALKING TOUGH: Hyderabad Mayor and TDP election observer for Chittoor district Teegala Krishna Reddy addressing a media conference in Tirupati on Sunday. Also seen (from left) are former MLA A. Mohan, district vice-president N.V. Prasad and Tirupati municipal chairperson K. Sankar Reddy

TIRUPATI: Hyderabad Mayor and TDP election observer for Chittoor district Teegala Krishna Reddy has accused the Congress of resorting to undemocratic means to win the panchayat raj elections.

Mr. Krishna Reddy has accused the ruling party of going all the way to buy, coerce or even assault rival candidates.

The TDP leader was here on Sunday to review the party position in the native district of party president N. Chandrababu Naidu.

At a media conference, Mr. Reddy did mention that romping home in Chittoor was prestigious for the TDP. He charged the Congress with resorting to "unethical and undemocratic" practices to turn the tide in its favour.

In an oblique reference to chief whip N. Kirankumar Reddy, Mr. Krishna Reddy charged the powers-that-be with blatantly tampering with the voters' list in Kalikiri and K.V. Palle mandals of Vayalpadu constituency (represented by the chief whip) and implicating former MLA (TDP) Chintala Ramachandra Reddy and the party's State vice-president Imtiaz Ahmed in false cases.

He warned the Congress that it could no longer take the public for granted and hoodwink them at will.

Ration cards

Tirupati municipal chairperson K. Sankar Reddy expressed concern that the 16-point charter of guidelines issued to officials to let voters without identity cards exercise their franchise was prone to gross misuse. Especially, identity cards of private industrial units and recognised private educational institutions could be `produced' by anybody, he said, recalling that only such votes had tilted the balance and caused a dent in the party's prospects during last year's municipal elections.

TDP district vice-president N.V. Prasad said that the process of issuing ration cards was still on in the district and sought to know if it was permissible.

Mr. Krishna Reddy later discussed the party's position in the district with local leaders. Former MLA A. Mohan was also present.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail