BRS Files Complaint Against CM Revanth Reddy for Model Code Violations in Jubilee Hills By-election

Hyderabad:

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has filed an official complaint with Telangana's Chief Electoral Officer against Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Congress candidate Naveen Yadav, citing serious violations of the Model Code of Conduct in the lead-up to the Jubilee Hills constituency by-election.

Former minister Gangula Kamalakar and other BRS leaders are calling for immediate action, including filing a criminal case against the Chief Minister and removing him from the Congress star campaigners list.

The complaint primarily focuses on a recent meeting in Yousufguda that attracted numerous cine workers, who represent a significant voting bloc in Jubilee Hills. According to the BRS, Reddy violated electoral rules by making specific promises aimed at influencing these voters while the Model Code was in effect.

Such actions constitute a corrupt practice under the Representation of the People's Act, 1951, the BRS alleges. The party is demanding that Revanth Reddy be barred from campaigning in the constituency and that his name be struck from the star campaigners list.

Additionally, the BRS has requested that the Election Commission calculate expenses from this meeting and attribute them to Congress candidate Naveen Yadav's election account, arguing this represents misuse of the Chief Minister's official position for electoral advantage.

Both the BRS and BJP have intensified scrutiny of the Congress candidate, accusing him of using intimidatory language. Yadav currently faces a criminal case related to alleged electoral misconduct.

While the BRS complaints generally address abuse of power, the police case against Yadav stems from allegations that he distributed voter ID card copies to residents. Police have charged him under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Representation of the People Act for undue influence and corrupt practices.

The BRS previously accused Congress of extensive electoral fraud, alleging collusion with officials to register thousands of fake voters in the constituency. Party working president KT Rama Rao has publicly presented specific examples of duplicate voter IDs.

While Congress has not officially addressed the code violation allegations against the Chief Minister, party sources indicate they are continuing their campaign strategy, dismissing the accusations as politically motivated.

Regarding allegations about distributing voter ID copies, sources close to Yadav contend that they were merely providing laminated photocopies as part of a "voter awareness exercise" to encourage participation in the bypoll, not representing them as official Electoral Photo Identity Cards.

Congress leadership has intensified its ground campaign, assigning senior MLAs and MLCs responsibility for polling booths and voter mapping, signaling an aggressive approach to the by-election despite multiple opposition complaints to the Election Commission.