Despite the misuse of official machinery by the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and harassment of Congress workers by the police and revenue officials, the local body results proved that the Congress put up a decent show and furthered its strength, the party said.
In a statement here, TPCC treasurer Gudur Narayan Reddy alleged that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, through intelligence department, got a clue of his party’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha election held in the first phase on April 11. “Therefore, he used all means to suppress and harass Congress workers to win maximum seats for TRS in polls held in three phases on May 6, 10 and 14.
He said despite Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao’s serious efforts, Congress workers remained strong and gave a tough fight. “Congress has won significant number of seats and lost many other seats with small margins.”
Code violation
He also alleged that the TRS MLAs and ministers openly threatened that funds would be denied to areas where TRS gets fewer votes. “Moreover, the State Election Commission has completely ignored our complaints and TRS leaders were allowed to violate the Model Code of Conduct. The ruling party has used intimidation as a tool to get the support of voters in rural areas,” he alleged.
Mr. Reddy said the Lok Sahba election have clearly shown that the Congress party was on its way to back to power. “It has won three seats and lost three others with a small margin. It has regained control over half of the State and it would revive itself in remaining half in the next few months,” the Congress leader said.