VIJAYAWADA/NANDYAL : The TDP coordination committee on Thursday expressed the fear that the YSRC might create trouble to disrupt the Nandyal bypoll to avoid “certain defeat”. The panel, which met at the residence of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, discussed the bypoll scenario at length. Briefing reporters later, Minister Atchannaidu alleged that YSRC chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was instigating the people to unleash violence as he fears his party’s defeat. He claimed he had specific information that the YSRC could resort to violence and said the TDP will take the conspiracy hatched by the YSRC to the notice of the Election Commission.
The Chief Minister, who chaired the meeting, condemned the YSRC chief’s tactics and advised his party men to exercise maximum restraint. Naidu reportedly told the leaders that though Jagan “uses intemperate and abusive language, the party must not stoop to his level” during its campaign ahead of the byelection to the Nandyal Assembly seat on Aug 23. “You have to act with restraint. Jagan is trying to provoke activists and people,” he said.
Meanwhile, actor and Hindupur MLA Balakrishna has been caught on camera handing out money to voters during his campaign in Venkateswarapuram in Nandyal, even as Tourism Minister Akhila Priya canvassed for her cousin and party nominee Bhuma Brahmananda Reddy.
Nandyal byelection Returning Officer and District Joint Collector V Prasanna Venkatesh said he had received a complaint from a poll observer that Balakrishna had distributed money to voters.
He said the allegation would be examined and referred to the Election Commission for instructions on the course of action to be taken. When contacted, Information and Public Relations Minister Kaluva Srinivasulu, who is camping in Nandyal, said several people were floating rumours to vilify the TDP.
“Why should Balakrishna distribute money? Wherever he goes, he has a huge fan following. They always try to mob him. The same thing happened there too,” he said, exuding confidence that the TDP would win the bypoll with a comfortable margin. “I will be able to make a reasonable guess on the margin after two or three days,” he added.
TDP district president Somisetty Venkateswarlu denied that the actor distributed money. “He gave some money to a disabled fan. He told his fan to
have a good meal at a restaurant,” Somisetty clarified. While this is so, the YSRC slammed the TDP on Balakrishna’s alleged attempt to bribe voters. “It is shameful that the TDP is trying to buy votes,” YSRC district unit convener Gouru Venkatareddy said.
Balayya slaps fan who tried to garland him
Hindupur MLA Balakrishna on Wednesday slapped a fan. The actor, who had reached Suraj Grand Hotel after campaigning in Nandyal, was greeted by fans who rushed to garland him. In the melee, one nearly fell on the actor who lost his cool and slapped him. His fans, shell-shocked, threw the garland away and left.
Complaint against actor for bribing voters
Nandyal bypoll Returning Officer and District Joint Collector V Prasanna Venkatesh said Thursday that he had received a complaint that Balakrishna bribed voters. He said the allegation would be examined and referred to the Election Commission for instructions on the course of action to be taken.