In an obvious indication to the Bharatiya Janata Party going all out to win the by-election to Munugode assembly seat, the central government has virtually taken charge of the developments in the constituency to checkmate the Telangana Rashtra Samithi.
Apparently realising that the local officials, including the police, are favouring the TRS and troubling only the BJP leaders and cadre, the Central government has sent huge number of para-military forces to the constituency to control the TRS.
Amidst reports that the local police officials are selectively targeting the BJP leaders in the distribution of money and kind to the voters, the central paramilitary forces entered the scene and conducting checks at every point for the last two days.
The Central forces are focussing on distribution of money and liquor by the TRS leaders.
As there are reports that the money is changing hands in a big way not in Munugode but on the adjacent villages, the para military forces have also stationed on the outskirts and sealed all the entry points into Munugode.
In another shocker, the Election Commission of India authorities on Thursday sacked Munugode returning officer Jagannath Rao for taking a unilateral decision to cancel the “road roller” symbol allotted to Yuga Tulasi Party candidate Y Shiva Kumar.
While restoring the symbol to Shiva Kumar, the EC sought an explanation from the returning officer why he had to cancel the symbol.
Apparently, the returning officer took the decision following a request from the TRS, which complained that the road roller symbol resembled the car and might confuse the voters.
Shiva Kumar alleged that the returning officer, in conspiracy with TRS, had cancelled the already allotted symbol to him.
He said the symbol was allotted to him through lottery and after a complaint from the TRS, the symbol was withdrawn and another symbol “Baby Walker” was allotted to him.
Naturally, the TRS cried foul over the latest developments.
TRS working president K T Rama Rao described the restoration of road roller symbol and transfer of the Returning Officer as yet another example strengthening the argument that the BJP was misusing the constitutional institutions.
KTR said the BJP was making cheap attempts to gain mileage in the bypolls by confusing the voters with symbols that resemble the TRS’ car symbol.
“This violates the constitutional spirit of free and fair elections,” he asserted.