(Prashanth Reddy)
Hyderabad, June 4: Reacting to the trends and outcome of counting of votes for ZPTC and MPTC elections, the Congress on Tuesday claimed that it has proved its existence and also strength across the Telangana State.
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Treasurer Gudur Narayana Reddy said that the results could not be considered as a sweep in favor of ruling TRS as Congress party has given a tough fight on all seats.
“Congress has won a significant number of seats and lost many other seats with small margins despite the fact that TRS has openly misused the official machinery, money power, and liquor. Election Commission has completely ignored our complaints and TRS leaders were allowed to violate the Model Code of Conduct. The ruling party has used intimidation as a tool to get the support of voters in rural areas,” he alleged.
Gudur Narayana Reddy said that there has been a history of the ruling party winning the local body elections due to various factors. However, he said, TRS MLAs and ministers openly threatened that funds would be denied to areas where TRS gets fewer votes.
Further, Congress workers were harassed using police and official machinery, he said.
“Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, through intelligence department, might have got a clue of his party’s bad performance in Lok Sabha elections held in the first phase on April 11. Therefore, he used all means to suppress and harass Congress workers to win maximum seats for TRS in ZPTC, MPTC polls held in three phases on May 6, 10 and 14. Despite KCR’s serious efforts, Congress workers remained strong and fought a tough election,” he said.
“The results of Lok Sabha elections have clearly shown that the Congress party was on its way to back to power. It has won three seats and lost three others with a small margin. Therefore, Congress has regained control over half of the State and it would revive itself in remaining half in the next few months,” Gudur Narayana Reddy said.