Electioneering ended in Andhra Pradesh and polling was held on May 13. The fate of the political parties aspiring for power has been sealed in the electronic voting machines (EVMs). So, there is no way any political party can gain any political mileage for now, as the people have already given their mandate.
But yes, during the electioneering and on the polling day, the major political parties – YSR Congress party and the Telugu Desam Party, had done everything to hijack the polling and gain the last-minute benefit.
Being the ruling party, the YSRCP might have had some advantage because of the police support. And that was why party MLA from Macherla Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy could get away despite tampering with the EVM at one of the polling booths, allegedly out of anger that the TDP leaders were indulging in rigging.
Though he managed to escape from Macherla, allegedly with the help of the police, the EC took serious note of it after the video of the MLA destroying the EVM came out and took stringent action against him, the polling staff and even the police officials.
As many as 10 cases were booked against Pinnelli and the EC ordered his immediate arrest. If he is proved guilty in the court, he would have to face imprisonment for seven years. Of course, the police are not able to arrest him till now, as he gave them a slip in Hyderabad.
The TDP has succeeded in exposing Pinnelli. Apart from issuing statements and addressing press conferences condemning Pinnelli’s action at the polling station, the TDP leaders submitted memorandums to the SIT, the EC and even the DGP, demanding arrest of the MLA.
So far, so good. But they are still trying to create a big ruckus by giving a Chalo Macherla call on Thursday, despite knowing that the police had imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of Cr PC.
Obviously, this is only to provoke the YSRCP leaders and cadres in Palnadu so that it would lead to a law-and-order problem, as there is nothing for the TDP to gain political mileage because of completion of the polling.
The police naturally kept the TDP leaders including Julakanti Brahma Reddy, Devineni Uma, Nakka Anand Babu, Kanaparthi Srinivasa Rao and others under house arrest. They took several TDP leaders and cadres into preventive custody so that they would not go to Macherla.
It would be better if the TDP leaders maintain restraint and allow the EC and the police machinery to do their job.