Dispute between SEC, Andhra govt escalates

Government Advisor (Public Affairs) Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy said that State Election Commissioner has been working with mala fide intentions, and thus didn’t care to pay a visit or enquire on the Nimmada incident, where the TDP state president was personally involved in threatening a candidate over filing  nomination.

He said that there were no elections in Nimmada for nearly a decade, and nearly seven people who either filed nominations or raised questions have been brutally murdered in the past. He questioned Chandrababu Naidu who is batting for competition in polls and discouraging unanimous elections to answer “why was there no election in Nimmada and why didn’t he encourage a similar competitive spirit there”.

“Why is there no Chandrababu’s democracy in Atchannaidu’s own constituency, which is staying away from elections for decades.”Ramakrishna Reddy also questioned SEC Ramesh Kumar, for not visiting Nimmada or ordering an inquiry on the incident, while he visited a distressed family in East Godavari and even suspended local cops holding them responsible for the incident. He said that SEC has been proving time and again that he is biased towards TDP. Even now, when a close relative of Atchannaidu has come forward to file a nomination he was threatened and attacked by TDP leaders. He said that this is not an isolated incident, but depicts the ruthless politics of TDP.

Speaking on the special app designed by SEC for reporting irregularities in the elections, Sajjala said that SEC refused to use the Nigha, the app designed by State Government and is going for a new app from a private company which is not transparent enough, or equipped with security firewalls. He said that there are issues over this new app and suggested using a state-owned app or C-Vigil, the one used by Central Election Commission and developed by NIC. As per the clear guidelines, the SEC must use government services for smooth conduct of elections, but Ramesh Kumar has been declining government services.

Ramakrishna Reddy further said that Chandrababu Naidu had shifted his agenda from temples to statues of Ambedkar and Vangaveeti Ranga to cause unrest in the State similar to the temple desecrations.