ANANTAPUR: The last day of withdrawal of nomination papers for Hindupur municipal elections on Tuesday unveiled a hectic activity including charges and counter charges by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Congress members and use of all sorts of tactics by the two parties to appease, lure and even `threaten' rebels asking them to quit the fray.

However, their tactics proved to be effective only to a small extent as a large number of rebels had refused to cow down and bow out of the fray as their parties wished.

As a result, 203 candidates are left in the fray after withdrawal of nomination papers for 38 wards in the municipal council.

The TDP alleged that Congress henchmen had `abducted' its candidate for 29th ward Roshan Vali, but the latter had succeeded in escaping from the abductors near Pamidi.

In a complaint lodged with Pamidi the police, Mr. Roshan Vali alleged that five persons had picked him up forcibly from near tourist lodge after midnight and he had given the slip to the abductors when they stopped the vehicle to have tea near Pamidi in the early hours.

The TDP leaders also staged a dharna in front of the SP's camp office here demanding action against abductors of their candidate and eviction of outsiders from Hindupur to ensure free and fair poll.

Probe ordered

He was then brought to Anantapur and was produced before the SP.

After hearing Mr. Roshan Vali's version, the SP ordered an inquiry into the `abduction'. At Hindupur, TDP leaders - K. Srinivasulu, V. Hanumantharaya Chowdary and B.K. Parthasarathi-- demanded the State Election Commission to ensure free and fair polls in Hindupur, in the wake of Congress attempts to terrorise the TDP with the abduction of a candidate.

On the other hand, Congress leaders -- J.C. Diwakara Reddy, N. Raghuveera Reddy, T. Kavitha, P. Venugopal Reddy, S. Sailahanath and K. Mohan Reddy -- refuted the TDP charge and said there was no need for the Congress to resort to such acts.

They alleged that TDP was playing a drama for political gains.

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