While exuding confidence that the People’s Front would gain comfortable majority in the Telangana polls, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy sought apology from Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rajat Kumar on the thousands of votes missing in the voters list.
Despite our representations, the CEO showed no interest to send a report to the Election Commission of India that the State was not ready for fair elections in view of the missing names from voters list, Mr. Reddy said at a press conference here.
He was speaking along with the People’s Front leaders including Telangana TDP president L. Ramana; TJS leader Vidhyadhar Reddy, CPI State secretary Chada Venkatreddy and MRPS chief Manda Krishna Madiga.
He however now asked the Collectors to ensure the safety of the EVMs as they fear replacement by the ruling party supporters. The Collectors should install CCTV cameras at all the strong rooms where the EVMs are stored and agents of political parties should be allowed to monitor their safety apart from their presence while shifting from strong rooms to counting centres.
Will win 75 to 80 seats
Mr. Reddy said the Congress-led People’s Front would win 75-85 seats despite all the hurdles created for fair polls and the large voter turn out is an indication of the anger against the government. He ridiculed the claim of IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao that TRS would win 80 seats. Earlier, the TRS claimed winning over 100 seats but at the end they can’t win more than 35 seats.
On the exit polls, he said Editor of a national news channel that projected majority for the TRS personally called him expressing doubts over the exit polls conducted by his own channel. “In fact, he also tweeted the same saying it would be a tough contest between TRS and People’s Front,” he said adding that since votes have been polled let everyone should wait for the results.
Mr. Ramana said the alliance partners projected a strong and united voice against the ruling party and the undemocratic rule apart taking the anti-people policies of the government to the people. He felt that after forming the next government, the front would implement the common agenda.
Mr. Krishna Madiga ridiculed the TRS for rejecting the prediction of Mr. Rajagopal while appreciating the exit polls of national channels. Mr. Rama Rao showed enormous faith in Mr. Rajagopal seeking his help for surveys despite knowing that he was totally anti-Telangana. Whom is he cheating, he asked.