Soon after the elections in Andhra Pradesh, Telugu Desam Party president and chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu had raised a hue and cry over the inordinate delay in the commencement of polling in several polling stations in the state.
He alleged that the Election Commission authorities did not start polling in several booths even till afternoon on the pretext of malfunctioning of EVMs.
He even suspected a foul play in the replacement of defunct EVMs with new ones, stating that the replaced EVMs could have been manipulated.
Initially, the YSRC rejected these allegations saying there was no meaning in Naidu’s allegations against EC and everything went on well. The polling percentage was very high as the voters patiently waited till late hours to cast their vote.
But now, the YSRC leaders are suspecting that the polling was deliberately delayed in several constituencies at the behest of Naidu, who wanted to see that the percentage of polling would be less.
Apparently, they wanted to lodge a complaint with the EC over the role played by some polling officials in the delayed polling.
They are suspecting that even the EC authorities had helped Naidu in this regard. They are of the view that Naidu colluded with some polling officials in ensuring malfunctioning of EVMs.
“Even the returning officers were appointed by the TDP government and they fully cooperated with the ruling party,” they say.
Well, anything is possible in democracy!