A legislator of Telangana’s Telugu Desam Party has been arrested after allegedly being caught red-handed while trying to buy vote on the eve of legislative council elections, sources told.
Revanth Reddy, apparently been carrying Rs. 50 lakh, had gone to the house of Elvis Stephenson – a nominated legislator — in Secunderabad.
He had reportedly been discussing the matter with Mr Stephenson for the last three days. The deal, the sources said, had been struck for Rs. 5 crore.
He was reportedly arrested by waiting personnel of the Anti-Corruption Branch, when he was about to hand over the money.
The election for six legislative council seats will be held tomorrow. The ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi — which has 70 plus seats — can comfortably win four but has filed nominations for five seats.
The TDP alleges that the TRS has been aggressively encouraging crossover from other parties, even offering a minister’s post to Talasani Srinivas Yadav, who was elected on a TDP ticket.
TDP has 15 legislators in the 119-member assembly but has already lost five of them to the TRS. Yesterday a TDP legislator, Krishna Rao, switched loyalty to TRS.
The party is now alleging that this part of a bigger conspiracy hatched by the TRS ahead of the elections to keep its legislators from voting.
While being taken away by the authorities, Mr Reddy alleged it was a conspiracy by the rival party and its chief, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
“I am not daunted even if they put 100 cases. Will fight conspiracy by KCR. I did not bring any money,” he said.
