Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao who was attacked at Inimetla in Sattenapalli Assembly constituency on April 11 has blamed it on the deployment of inadequate security forces during the general elections.
“There was only one constable deployed at the polling station. Probably, the miscreants had seized this opportunity to attack me,” Mr. Sivaprasada Rao told the media at the Assembly on Tuesday.
‘Violence marred elections’
Holding Election Commission of India (ECI) responsible for this, he said adequate security measures was not taken in conducting the elections. “Sufficient paramilitary forces were not deployed in the State. Given the kind of violence that marred the polls, it is clear that the ECI could have done a proper planning,” he said.
On April 11, a group of YSRCP activists staged a demonstration, protesting the presence of Mr. Sivaprasada Rao inside a polling booth at Inimetla. He allegedly locked himself from inside the polling booth.
The Speaker observed that the officials were more interested in their rights rather than discharging duties.
“They need to strike a balance between the rules and conventions. Sticking to mere rule book is not a good sign in the democratic system. In the process, democracy and elections are being impacted,” he said. Citing the example of Telangana, Mr. Sivaprasada Rao said there was an uproar that the voters’ names were deleted en masse, which the election authorities had rejected stoutly. “At the end of the day, Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar merely said that he was sorry. In A.P., such situation could be averted if the people are vigilant,” he opined.
Referring to the State bifurcation, Mr. Sivaprasada Rao said the onus lies more on the BJP now when it comes to implementing the promises made to Andhra Pradesh on the floor of the Parliament.
‘Injustice meted out to A.P.’
“The Centre is not treating Andhra Pradesh on par with other States. A little help came when the State faced Cyclone Titli. But, ₹1,000 crore was released to Odisha after it was hit by severely cyclonic storm Fani,” he said.