HYDERABAD: BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Monday submitted a representation to the chief electoral officer alleging large-scale irregularities and fake votes in the Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency ahead of the bypoll.
Accusing the Congress of “misusing power and official machinery” to influence the outcome, Rama Rao claimed that BRS had identified nearly 20,000 duplicate or fake votes, with around 50 such entries per booth in about 400 polling stations. “In some houses, 150–200 votes were registered, including one instance where a single house had over 100 votes,” he said.
The BRS working president also accused the Congress of adding nearly 15,000 votes without valid addresses, allegedly in collusion with local officials. “In one case, a house owner said none of the 23 registered voters actually live there,” he said. The BRS urged the Election Commission to probe the irregularities, take action against officials involved, and transfer field officers to ensure fair polling.
Rama Rao alleged that despite the deletion of about 12,000 invalid votes, another 7,000 fake ones were added, calling it “a manipulation of nearly 19,000 votes.” He said the BRS would take the issue to every doorstep.
He urged party workers to unite behind Maganti Sunitha, the BRS candidate and widow of former MLA Maganti Gopinath, whose death necessitated the bypoll.
Former minister T Harish Rao said the bypoll was crucial for Telangana, accusing the Congress government of sparing influential leaders while demolishing the homes of the poor. “HYDRAA demolishes only poor people’s houses. To stop it and protect the poor, people must ensure Sunitha’s victory,” he said.
Sunitha, others booked for MCC violation
Hyderabad: Police on Monday registered a criminal case against the BRS candidate for the Jubilee Hills bypoll Maganti Sunitha, her daughter Akshara, corporator Rajkumar Patel and others for allegedly violating the model code of conduct (MCC). A GHMC official filed a complaint with the Jubilee Hills police stating that Sunitha and others assembled near the Jama Masjid Mohammadia and campaigned there without obtaining prior permission.
“A group of BRS workers assembled near the Jama Masjid Mohammadia in Venkatagiri, Yousufguda on October 10. They were seen wearing pink scarves bearing the BRS party name and symbol, and were engaged in political campaigning in support of the party candidate,” the complaint said.
“They were showing laminated cards containing ration card search details and Aarogyasri card beneficiary details to the public and were attempting to influence people attending Friday prayers. Upon enquiry, they could not produce any permission for such campaigning,” it added.
