Hours before the Seemandhra region goes to polls, Jai Samaikyandhra Party’s Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha candidate Sabbam Hari called it quits.
Stating that the denial of stay orders by the Supreme Court on the state bifurcation has disappointed him, Hari has claimed that he has quit the fight to prevent a split of votes which, otherwise, could benefit YSR Congress candidate YS Vijayalakshmi and, thus, spell a doom to the city and the state.
The JSP leader who also resigned from the party, withdrew from the election fray in a dramatic style after giving selective leaks to the media about his decision.
Initially, he was rumoured to have planned joining the TDP and extending support to BJP candidate K Haribabu but with no immediate response from either party, he cited the Supreme Court’s refusal to stall state’s bifurcation as one of the reasons. “The Supreme Court was our last hope for stopping the bifurcation and ensure justice to the people of Seemandhra. As it did not happen, there is no point fighting for united Andhra Pradesh anymore,” he told reporters at his residence here Tuesday.
Giving a new twist to the tale, Hari urged voters not to encourage outsiders to rule them as it would shatter the peaceful atmosphere in Visakhapatnam city. He urged people to use their wisdom before voting and not vote for YSR Congress candidate YS Vijayalakshmi which could spell doom to Vizag city and also the state.
EC to Slap Case against Sabbam
Hyderabad: Jai Samaikyandhra Party’s Sabbam Hari landed himself in a soup by retiring from the contest. Supporting a candidate after the poll campaigning ended amounts to violation of the model code of conduct, chief electoral officer Bhanwar Lal has said. EC officials would issue notices to Sabbam Hari and also slap a case against him, the CEO told reporters here Tuesday. Lal said Hari would be declared a ‘dummy candidate’ and the expenditure incurred so far by him would be added to the BJP’s candidate’s account.