Hyderabad: Tension marred the voting for the Jubilee Hills bypoll on Tuesday after several non-local leaders, including MLAs, MLCs, ministers, and former legislators, from both the Congress and the BRS, were spotted moving around the constituency, allegedly breaching the Election Commission‘s model code of conduct. Both parties accused each other of deploying ‘outsiders’ to influence voters.Acting on directions from chief electoral officer C Sudharshan Reddy, police registered three FIRs against leaders from both parties. Hyderabad district election officer and GHMC commissioner RV Karnan confirmed the action, saying, “We have received complaints from both sides and booked three FIRs against leaders from the Congress and the BRS for entering polling areas and moving towards booths.”Karnan clarified that some videos circulating online were old while others showed leaders merely passing through the area. “Only those found trying to influence voters are booked after verification,” he added.Deputy speaker and Dornakal MLA Ramachandra Naik and Alair MLA Beerla Ilaiah (Congress) were booked at Madhuranagar police station. Former MLAs Dasyam Vinay Bhaskar and Methuku Anand (BRS) were charged at Borabanda station. Congress MLC Shankar Naik and party functionary Matta Dayanand were also booked by the Borabanda police.The BRS lodged a detailed complaint with the ECI, accusing Congress leaders from other constituencies of illegally canvassing in Jubilee Hills on the polling day. The complaint named Ramachandra Naik, Shankar Naik, Ilaiah, and Dayanand, alleging they moved around polling stations, interacted with voters, and sought support for Congress candidate V Naveen Yadav.The BRS alleged that these leaders had ‘no lawful purpose’ near polling premises, violating provisions of the Representation of the People Act that bar canvassing within 200 metres of polling booths. The party said their actions ‘created an atmosphere of intimidation,’ urging the ECI to review CCTV and webcasting footage, and file criminal cases.The BRS also accused deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka of touring polling areas in violation of election norms. It alleged that Congress ministers and MLAs, including Serilingampally MLA Arekapudi Gandhi and health minister Damodar Raja Narasimha, were seen near polling stations while some leaders even ‘distributed cash’ to voters. “When questioned, their supporters resorted to violence,” the BRS claimed, accusing police and officials of remaining ‘silent spectators.‘Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee made counter complaints against BRS leaders, accusing them of intimidating voters and violating the model code. TPCC Election Commission coordination committee chairman P Rajesh Kumar named MLAs Padi Kaushik Reddy and D Sudheer Reddy, among others, alleging they campaigned inside the constituency and ‘threatened voters with serious consequences’ if they didn’t back the BRS.Rajesh Kumar said such activities disrupted the free and fair conduct of elections in the constituency. The TPCC urged the ECI to take action against non-local leaders under the Representation of the People Act, warning that “unless strict action is taken, the integrity of the Jubilee Hills by-election would be compromised.”
