Oppn lobbying to keep volunteers off polls in AP

Vijayawada: The Opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh have intensified their lobbying to keep volunteers off from political activities after finding clinching evidence on their involvement in canvassing for YSR Congress Party, with selection of candidates by the parties reaching final stage.

On receipt of several complaints from the Opposition on violation of Model Code of Conduct imposed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) after announcement of multi-phase election schedule to Lok Sabha and Assembly in AP, Odisha and few other States, Chief Electoral Officer Mukesh Kumar Meena directed the District Collectors to suspend nearly 100 volunteers from political activities in Guntur, West Godavari, East Godavari, Konaseema, Manyam and Kadapa districts. He also asked the aggrieved parties to lodge complaints on specific cases of violations on cVIGIL App.

YSRCP has been accused of engaging volunteers in procuring vital data of voters well ahead of elections. In all, 2.56 ward and village level volunteers have been appointed on payment of a consolidated amount for facilitating decentralisation and delivering pension and other benefits being extended by the government headed by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy at the doorsteps of the people. There has been one volunteer made in-charge of 50 households. YSRCP has also recruited 5.2 lakh ‘Gruha Sarathis’ as part of its strategy for micro/booth level management ahead of the general elections.

Jana Sena Party president and film star Pawan Kalyan’s allegation, quoting sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs, that volunteers are responsible for data theft leading to mysterious disappearance of hundreds of adolescent girls across AP had kicked up a controversy with several volunteers hitting the streets in protest against the allegation. However, after his statement, the ECI was flooded with requests by non-YSRCP parties to not involve volunteers in election related works.

TDP official spokesman Kommareddy Pattabhiram said the ruling party leaders went on record saying that volunteers are a big asset for YSRCP and they will help further the interest of ruling party candidates in the elections.

BJP spokesman Lanka Dinakar appealed to the ECI to keep volunteers from election work as well as political canvassing, as being in-charge of 50 households, they might intimidate voters to support YSRCP by threatening to remove their names from the beneficiary list. APCC president Y S Sharmila has also urged ECI to take steps to ensure free and fair polls as the ruling party is bent upon winning elections by resorting to electoral malpractices. The communist parties as well as other parties earlier submitted several representations over irregularities in the preparation of electoral rolls.