The politics in Andhra Pradesh took another wild turn as the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) snubbed the Election Commission. It all started with the EC acting on multiple complaints lodged by YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), one of which was alleged phone tapping of their important leaders by senior police officers, including A.B. Venkateshwar Rao, Director General of Intelligence.
On Tuesday evening, EC acted on the complaints and issued directions to transfer intelligence chief Venkateswara Rao along with two other officers, superintendent of Kadapa and Srikakulam districts.
On the same night, the state government issued a Government Order (No. 718) instructing all the three officers, Rao, Rahul Dev Sharma, SP of Kadapa and Venkata Ratnam, SP of Srikakulam to report to police headquarters and not be assigned any election duty till the polling date. However, the very next day, the AP government filed a petition in the high court questioning the order of the EC.
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During campaigning, Chief Minister and TDP national president, N. Chandrababu Naidu said that the EC should not act on every complaint filed with them. By evening, the AP government took out two more GOs which made it clear that Naidu was ready for a showdown with the Commission.
Through GO No. 720, the earlier GO was cancelled. But, fresh orders were issued regarding the transfer of only two officers, SP of Kadapa and Srikakulam while the name of intelligence chief was surprisingly omitted. The next GO (No. 721) was issued putting out the list of police officials as per their designation who are mandated to participate in poll duties.
The opposition party leaders have accused the TDP government of protecting Venkateshwar Rao by issuing this particular GO as it was shown that he was not involved in poll duty in the official capacity.
The YSRCP leaders have accused the intelligence chief of acting like a TDP worker and snooping on them with latest gadgets. The opposition party has also called the action of TDP “illegal” since they have not followed the EC orders and reinstated the intelligence chief.
The YSRCP is gearing up to step up pressure for the senior police officer’s transfer as they fear that elections cannot be held in a fair manner without his removal from the post. For now, it has to be seen how the EC responds to the situation.
