HC Order Slap In The Face To Chandrababu: YSRCP

Welcoming the Andhra Pradesh High Court order on the directives of the Election Commission to the Chandababu Naidu government transferring three IPS officials including DG Intelligence AB Venkateswara Rao, YSRCP spokesperson Vasireddy Padma said that the High Court's refusal to intervene in the functioning of the EC was a slap in the face of Chandrababu Naidu. She said that it was shameful for a government to have to face such a situation.

Thanking the High Court for its prompt verdict which would serve to protect democracy and ensure free and fair elections, she said that the High Court had to spell out the powers of the Election Commission to the TDP government and this was shameful.

Chandrababu Naidu had all along been creating hurdles in the path of the EC for conduct of fair elections and was questioning its authority. The YSRCP had complained to the Central Election Commission earlier that Chandrababu Naidu was using DG Intelligence AB Venkateswara Rao and many other senior police officials to further TDP's electoral chances. A YSRCP delegation led by senior Rajya Sabha member V Vijayasai Reddy had briefed the full bench of th CEC on Monday as well as Thursday and requested the Election Commission to probe the role of these police officials. The CEC had conducted its own investigation through independent channels and then issued orders transferring DG Intelligence AB Venkateswara Rao, Srikakulam SP Venkatarathnam and Dr YSR Kadapa SP Rahul Dev Sharma to the head quarters and also directed the AP government to keep them away from election duties.

By defying election commission orders, through a separate GO keeping the DG Intelligence out of the purview of the Election COmmission, Chandrababu Naidu brought the state into disrepute. His actions will forever remain a black mark on democracy, Vasireddy Padma said. She observed that Chandrababu Naidu had questioned the authority of election commission in a way that no politician in post-Independent India ever did. Posting a direct question to the TDP supremo, she asked what will you say to the High Court now? Wobn't you honour the High Court?

The onus is now on the AP government to implement the orders of the High Court immediately.

Vasireddy Padma said that Chandrababu seemed to be driven by a fear of facing the elections without IPS official AB Venkateswara Rao next to him to carry out illegal activities. Chandrababu Naidu needlessly tried to turn the matter of Election Commission's orders to the State government into a political conspiracy and this was condemnable, she said. Chandrababu Naidu owes an apology to the people of Andhra Pradesh, she added.

The YSRCP spokesperson berated the TDP supremo for using police machinery to distribute cash. In a latest instance, constables in Srikakulam were caught red-handed distributing money on behalf of the ruling party, she pointed out. Vasireddy Padma said that in their meeting with the full bench of the Election Commission in Delhi, YSRCP leaders had pointed out that crores of rupees were being transported in the vehicle of state DGP RP Thakur.

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