HYDERABAD: It appears the cash-for-vote scandal may haunt Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu for a long time. Even as political circles are abuzz with rumours that the KCR government in Telangana is moving forward to nail Naidu in the case, State Home Minister Nayini Narasimha Reddy on Wednesday indicated as much when he predicted ‘unforeseen developments in politics in the days to come.’
And, it has also now emerged that the Telangana State police might have tapped the phones of Naidu much before catching TDP MLA Revanth Reddy red-handed while he was offering a bribe of `5 crore to nominated MLA in the Telangana Assembly Elvis Stephenson on the eve of elections to the Telangana Legislative Council. “ACB has records of telephonic conversation between Naidu and MLA Stephenson. Revanth dared to lure the nominated MLA only because of Naidu’s support. Law will take its own course in this case,” the Home Minister said, adding the ACB officials had enough evidence to also prove that Naidu had spoken to some MLAs of the ruling TRS too over the phone to persuade them to vote for the TDP in the MLC polls.
The Telangana police also, citing the cash-for-votes scandal involving JMM leader Shibu Soren, say there is enough evidence to name Naidu. But whether Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will go to that extent remains a million dollar question.
Pointing at demands for making Naidu accused no. 1 in the case, the TS Home Minister told reporters in Warangal, “In the coming days, there will be unforeseen developments in politics.” Interestingly, TRS MP and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s daughter K Kavitha also demanded that Naidu be made the first accused.
The TRS appears to be further considering the option of initiating disciplinary action against Revanth Reddy, who is in jail following his arrest, by getting him suspended from the State Assembly.
