HT Digital,
Amaravati, May 22: The Election Commission (EC) has launched an investigation into allegations of electronic voting machine (EVM) vandalism by Andhra Pradesh MLA P. Ramakrishna Reddy. The EC stated on Tuesday that it is taking the allegations very seriously, following the surfacing of a video that purportedly shows the ruling YSR Congress Party MLA involved in the incident.
The alleged vandalism took place on May 13 and was captured on a web camera at polling stations in the Macharla Assembly Constituency, specifically at PS No. 202 and seven other stations. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Andhra Pradesh, Mukesh Kumar Meena, confirmed that Palnadu district election officials have handed over the video footage to the state police to aid in their investigation.
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“The sitting MLA P. Ramakrishna Reddy was recorded on web camera vandalising EVMs in PS No. 202 and seven other polling stations in the Macharla Assembly Constituency. The Palnadu district election officials have provided the video footage to the police for investigation,” the CEO stated.
The MLA has been formally named as an accused in the case. The EC has directed CEO Mukesh Kumar Meena to inform the Director General of Police (DGP) to take stringent action against all individuals involved in the vandalism.
Opposition leader and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) National General Secretary Nara Lokesh has also weighed in on the matter. He accused the MLA from Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy’s party of destroying the EVMs out of fear of losing the election. Lokesh shared the video of the incident on social media platform X, alleging that this act of vandalism is indicative of the YSR Congress Party’s desperation.
“YS Jagan Mohan Reddy not only killed his own uncle but also the people who voted for him and, finally, democracy itself. YCP MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy vandalised the EVM at the Palwai Gate polling centre in the Macharla Constituency. I demand that the Election Commission take strict action against Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy, who vandalised EVMs and attacked them out of fear of defeat. People are going to give a real verdict on YCP’s factional politics on June 4,” Lokesh wrote.
Andhra Pradesh held elections to choose its MPs and MLAs on May 13 in a single-phase poll. The state has experienced widespread violence following the election.
