Telugu Desam party crosses swords with Election Commission

Hyderabad: TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu and his family were registered voters in the polling booth located at the office of the Divisional Engineer, BSNL, Road No. 66, Jubilee Hills, which falls in the Khairatabad Assembly constituency and Secunderabad LS constituency. Both constituencies have gone to the BJP in the alliance deal.

The TD chief exuded confidence of the BJP-led NDA forming the next government at the Centre. “The elections are also crucial for both the new states. Public security is foremost. The TD is committed to justice to all,” he added.

When Mr Naidu’s public claim that he had voted for the BJP was brought to the notice of Mr Bhanwar Lal during his media briefing, he said, “Secrecy of vote has to be maintained by every voter, however great he may be. If not it (the vote) would be considered invalid.”

Asked whether the EC  would initiate action against Mr Naidu, he initially said that the vote would be made invalid. In a sharp reaction, the TD condemned Mr Bhanwar Lal’s comments and lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India against the official.

“He has no constitutional authority to declare the vote as invalid since Mr  Naidu addressed the media 100 metres away from the polling booth. The Telugu Desam would appreciate if Mr Bhanwar Lal takes stringent action to control the flow of illicit liquor and money,” a TD spokesman said.

A group of TD members including T.D. Janardhan Rao, Ravindar Kumar and Srinivas, rushed to the CEO’s office and argued with Mr Bhanwar Lal alleging that his comments  had damaged the party’s image. Mr Bhanwar Lal, however, clarified that under Section 39 of Rule of Conduct of Election, if a person reveals his or her vote within 200 meters of a polling station, then it is a violation.