HYDERABAD: It appears the cash-for-vote scandal may haunt AP Chief Minister and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu for a long time.
Even as political circles are abuzz with rumours that the KCR government is moving forward to nail Naidu in the case, 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 police might have tapped Naidu’s phones 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 the MLC elections.
“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,” Nayini said, adding the ACB officials had enough evidence to also prove Naidu had spoken to some TRS MLAs 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 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, Nayini told reporters in Warangal, “In the coming days, there will be unforeseen developments in politics.” Interestingly, KCR’s daughter K Kavitha also demanded that Naidu be made accused no. 1.
The TRS appears to be further considering the option of initiating disciplinary action against Revanth, who is in jail following his arrest, by getting him suspended from the Assembly. The buzz is that the government is contemplating a special session of the Assembly for this purpose. But, there has been no official word on this so far.
Naidu, who has been thoroughly embarrassed over the manner in which Revanth was caught, reportedly vented his ire on AP police officials for being completely clueless about the elaborate operation of their TS counterparts to trap the TDP MLA.
An understandably furious Naidu on Wednesday fired direct salvos at the TRS and YSRC. “TRS and YSRC are in hand in glove only to corner us. The YSRC, which had opposed State bifurcation, voted for the TRS candidate in the Telangana MLC polls. It indicates Jagan is against AP’s interests,” he alleged while addressing meetings in Anantapur and Chittoor districts.
In an indirect reference to the Revanth issue, he said, “The TRS bought some TDP MLAs. We will make a representation to the Election Commission.” His cabinet colleagues too echoed the same views. More: P6