The BJP has sought action against District Collector S. Sambasiva Rao, who is also the District Electoral Officer, accusing him of showing “political bias” during the Vijay Sankalp rally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Sunday.
BJP district president T.P. Jayachandran told the media on Monday that the Collector had forcibly removed party hoardings and banners placed on the premises of a private property though permission had been accorded to install them. Those who attended the rally were denied drinking water. They were also not allowed to carry umbrellas to protect themselves from the summer heat.
Mr. Jayachandran alleged that the Collector also threatened to contact the Prime Minister’s Office and recommend cancellation of the rally if the BJP leaders did not toe his line. The Collector threatened to put BJP leaders behind bars on non-bailable charges if they failed to update him with details on preparations for the rally every hour, he said.
Mr. Jayachandran demanded that Mr. Rao be kept away from poll duty as he was found to be “politically biased”.