EC and Police Failed to Control Macherla Violence, Says YSRC

Vijayawada: The Election Commission and the state police face criticism that they failed to control law and order in Palnadu, where violence and damage to EVM occurred.

The EC and the police were also blamed for initiating measures on the EVM smashing by MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy seven days after the polls. They were also blamed for the release of the related video on social media platforms.

The YSRC leaders blamed the EC for the release of only the footage of EVM destruction in the Macherla of Palnadu while there were, in all, seven such incidents.

Similarly, Telugu Desam leaders also raised their voices against the police department's failure and this turned into a hot topic in political circles.

YSRC MLA and Narasaraopeta MP candidate Poluboina Anil Kumar Yadav said that the role of the EC in the video footage release raised suspicions. He said EVM damage incidents occurred on poll day in seven polling booths of Macherla. But. the footage of Palavai Gate was released on May 20, that too on the Twitter handle of TD’s Nara Lokesh.

He said that TD leaders carried out attacks on YSRC cadres, in which Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy’s son was also injured. EVMs were destroyed in eight places but the EC released only one video footage of the Palavai Gate, which showed its “bias.”

Anil Kumar said that the police colluded with TD but EC conveniently ignored the same. He demanded that the officials reveal the name of those behind the release of only one video clip. He demanded repoll in the polling booths where TD “committed rigging and destroyed EVMs.”

He said violence broke out after the appointment of TD favoured police officials including the then Palnadu SP.

Anil Kumar said that he had called the SP and other higher officials seeking action to restrain attacks and rigging of TD leaders but there was no response.

YSRC general secretary Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy posed a few questions to EC. “If the Palvai gate video is from the official webcasting source (which is EC’s exclusive property), how did it get leaked? Why did EC move so hastily without checking the authenticity of the video? While it’s acknowledged by the commission that a total of 7 instances of EVM damage occurred in the Macherla constituency, what is holding the EC back from releasing visuals of all of them, in full length, so that the culprits are exposed and appropriate action is taken?”

“More importantly, in the videos of TD ransacking polling booths in Macherla, there is clear evidence of TD goons attacking innocent voters. Why has no action been initiated in these instances by the EC?”

Meanwhile, Macherla TD candidate Julakanti Brahma Reddy and other leaders alleged police failure in restraining the YSRC from EVM destruction and attacks on TD supporters. They also lodged complaints with the EC.