HYDERABAD: TRS leader and IT Minister in the caretaker government, KT Rama Rao has accused Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of turning the temporary AP DGP office in Hyderabad into a virtual headquarters of his to hatch conspiracies with an aim to influence Assembly elections in Telangana.
Speaking to reporters at Telangana Bhavan on Saturday, Rama Rao referred to the news of AP intelligence personnel being caught while conducting a survey on Telangana polls in the temple town of Dharmapuri and alleged that the police attached to AP temporary DGP office were in touch with Congress leader A Revanth Reddy and TDP Telangana unit president L Ramana.
Immediately after a head constable and two constables were caught by the TRS workers in Dharmapuri, the AP police officials from Hyderabad called up Dharmapuri local police and asked why the AP police were taken into custody.
Rama Rao alleged that the AP CM Naidu was trying to win the elections by using money power.
TDP Telangana unit president Ramana’s close friend Vallabhaneni Anil was recently caught with `50 lakh, Rama Rao pointed out. “This is an indication that the AP CM is using his political power to influence the voters in Telangana by distributing money,” he said.
‘Uttam is habitual offender’
Rama Rao also recalled the recent statement by TRS chief and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao that Naidu was spending Rs 500 crore in Telangana elections with an understanding with AICC president Rahul Gandhi.
“Naidu is not even believing local Congress leaders and depending on his own sources while distributing the money,” Rama Rao said. “Naidu is using the AP police as pawns for his cheap politics. Why AP police are convening meetings here. What work does they have in Telangana?”
On Opposition parties finding fault with checking of vehicles in Telangana, Rama Rao recalled how `3 crore was burnt in the car of N Uttam Kumar Reddy, who is now the PCC chief, during 2014 elections.
“Uttam Kumar Reddy is an habitual offender. I request the Election Commission to check each and every vehicle of all the politicians. If the Election Commission fails to take any action, then it is not our responsibility if any untoward incidents happen when AP parties distribute money here,” Rama Rao said.
Rama Rao alleged that AP CM is giving advertisements in Telangana newspapers with AP public money. “As there is an election code, the TRS government cannot issue advertisements. But, AP CM is giving advertisements. The Election Commission should observe this,” Rama Rao said.
‘If grand alliance comes to power it will be musical chair of CMs’
Hyderabad: TRS leader KT Rama Rao claimed that the people would witness a “musical chair” of chief ministers if the grand alliance was voted to power in the State. Addressing a meeting at Telangana Bhavan on Saturday, after inducting Telangana Lingayat Samanvaya Samithi State chief Ashok Mustapuri into party, Rama Rao said that there are around 40 CM candidates in the Congress.
“PCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy is like ‘sata koti Lingaallo oka bodi lingam’,” Rama Rao said sarcastically describing the Congress leader in Telugu as one among many aspirants for the chief minister’s post. Stating that if the grand alliance came to power, the CM candidate would be decided by the Congress high command through a sealed cover. “You decide whether you want a sealed cover CM or K Chandrasekhar Rao, a lion-like CM,” Rama Rao said.
‘No cognisable offence by AP police’
The trio was later handed over to the police when they declared that they would only divulge details in the presence of police. Police said the trio was visiting villages around Dharma-puri allegedly on AP government orders. Jagtial SP Ch Sindhu Sharma told Express that the police are still verifying the facts. A senior police official said a case was not registered as there was no cognisable offence. While TS police remained tight-lipped, AP DGP RP Thakur did not respond.