Minister argues with police at polling booth during MLC elections in Karimnagar
K M Dayashankar
Mild commotion prevailed at ZP polling station when the Minister along with electorate and TRS leaders entered the premises by wearing shawls and police stopping them
KARIMNAGAR: Mild commotion prevailed at the Zilla Parishad polling station in Karimnagar town during the conduct of MLC elections with Minister for Civil Supplies and BC Welfare Gangula Kamalakar arguing with the police for stopping him from entering the polling station on the pretext of wearing a shawl on Friday.
As the Minister along with the electorate including municipal corporators, MPTC members and others arrived at the ZP office in a special bus from the camp to exercise their franchise, the police obstructed their entry into the polling booth stating that they were wearing the party coloured shawl. At this juncture, the Minister argued with the police stating that they were wearing a shawl that does not have any party symbol. He ridiculed the police for stopping them from entering into the polling booth to exercise their franchise following a complaint by some persons.
In a brief chat with newsmen, the Minister said that the TRS was winning two MLC seats in the integrated Karimnagar district. Stating that all the 986 votes would go only in favour of TRS, he clarified that there was no question of cross-voting.
Independent candidate condemns Minister attitude
On the other hand, TRS rebel candidate S Ravinder Singh, who remained in the fray as an independent candidate from the Karimnagar local authorities’ constituency, condemned the alleged adamant attitude of the Minister for entering into the polling station violating the election code of conduct.
He flayed the Minister for coming to the polling booth by raising slogans along with the electorate and other party workers and wearing the party coloured shawls. Whether the Minister and TRS leaders were coming to cast to their vote or staging a dharna, he asked.
Alleging that the ruling party leaders have made a mockery of democracy by violating all the election codes of conduct, he flayed the police officials for allowing the Minister to stay in the polling booth for more than two and half hours and campaigning. He said that he had lodged a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer against the misuse of official machinery and violating election code by the ruling party leaders.
He asked why the Minister was scared when they have an absolute majority to win the elections. He demanded the Election commission to sack the minister for flouting the Election code of conduct and protecting democracy.
