Tirupati: A tense situation prevailed at the RDO office here on Monday as leaders from the opposition Telugu Desam (TD) and the ruling YSRC parties staged protests and counter protests over voter registrations in Chandragiri constituency.
The TD staged an intense sit-in protest, alleging “gross negligence” by officials in preparing the voters lists for the Chandragiri constituency and demanding that names of thousands of “fake” voters be removed from the list.
The protest triggered a counter-protest by the YSRC, whose activists reached the venue, shouting slogans and accusing the TD of making “baseless” allegations.
The confrontation intensified in front of the RDO office and heated exchanges erupted between the rival sides. The police arrested several protesters including senior TD leader and Chandragiri constituency in-charge Pulivarthi Nani.
Enraged over the arrests, Nani attempted self-immolation by pouring petrol on himself in front of cameras, but policemen intervened immediately to “save” his life.
Speaking to the media before his arrest, Nani alleged that the updated electoral rolls of Chandragiri constituency contained over 35,000 bogus names that were added “at the behest of” local YSRC MLA Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy through middlemen and party cadres.
"It is well-known in Chandragiri that the MLA is indulging in electoral fraud to avoid his defeat in the next election. We have been fighting against this for the past seven months, but officials have taken no action," said Nani.
“If urgent steps are not taken for its rectification, we will approach the high court," he warned.
The TD leader accused the officials and police of siding with ruling party leaders. He asserted that his party's agitation will continue until the RDO responds to complaints of voter fraud.
