TDP national president and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s remarks against Chief Secretary L.V. Subrahmanyam continue to draw criticism from various quarters.

The JNU Alumni, Hyderabad, on Tuesday demanded an apology from Mr. Naidu for calling the Chief Secretary a “co-accused and covert.”

Voluntary organisations such as Jana Chaitanya Vedika, Bala Bharati, Asleela Pratighatana Vedika, Gandhi Smaraka Samithi, OC Welfare Association, A.P. Private Educational Institutes Managements’ Association, A.P. Kapu Employees’ Welfare Association, Noorbhasha Association, Guntur District SC Sarpanches’ Association, A.P. University Employees Pensioners’ Federation, and Navyandhra Intellectuals’ Forum demanded the arrest of Mr. Naidu for his “uncalled for remarks.”

The representatives of these associations met Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Gopal Krishna Dwivedi to express their concern and support the Election Commission of India (ECI) for appointing Mr. Subrahmanyam.

The alumni members, including retired IPS officer Sunderkumar Das, retired IAS officer Papa Rao, Hyderabad Metro Rail MD N.V.S. Reddy, and social scientist Venugopala Rao said it was unbecoming on the part of the CM to call the CS names. Mr. Subramanyam was a straightforward officer. The Court had already given him a clean chit. Mr. Naidu should take back his words, they requested.

Jana Chaitanya Vedika president V. Lakshman Reddy and others told reporters that it was unfortunate that Mr. Naidu was making false statements that 30% of the EVMs did not function on the election day. The fact was only 0.03% of the EVMs malfunctioned during the initial hours, he said. They began working in less than two to three hours. For one who boasts himself as tech savvy, Mr. Naidu’s demand to roll back to ballot paper system was unscientific.