Cash for Votes: Scene shifts to New Delhi

The scene in the sordid cash for votes saga is now shifting to the national capital what with all major players already reaching New Delhi.

Leader of Opposition in AP Assembly and YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has already reached New Delhi to complain about the blatant misuse of money power and the unethical means used by the ruling TDP to buy votes in the MLC elections in the neighbouring states. The party said that the kickbacks from dubious projects in AP were used to finance the Cash for Vote dealings. YS Jagan will meet President Pranab Mukherjee to apprise him of the situation to him. He was accompanied by MPs Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy and Mithun Reddy. He is also likely to meet the Union home minister.

Governor ESL Narasimhan too has left for Delhi to submit a report on the saga and the developments in its wake. His report is likely to become crucial in the whole episode. The Centre is likely to act only after receiving the report.

After the AP cabinet meeting, Naidu too has left for New Delhi, acompanied by a few senior cabinet colleagues. He is likely to meet central ministers to complain against the Telangana government.

The BJP and the Union government are cautious in their approach. The party has so far maintained silence on the issue. The Government is likely to react only after receiving Governor’s report.

The cash-for-vote scam came to light on May 31 when Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Telangana arrested TDP's deputy leader in the Telangana assembly A. Revanth Reddy while offering Rs.50 lakh to Stephenson to make him vote for the TDP-BJP candidate in Telangana legislative council elections.

The ACB also arrested Revanth Reddy's two aides in a trap laid on a complaint by Stephenson.