Noose Tightens Around Kodela For Guntur Poll Violence

Guntur: The turn of events post the Election day violence that happened in Inumetla mandal at Sattenapalli in Andhra Pradesh, is taking a serious note for the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader and Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, Kodela Siva Prasad Rao.

Video footage and photographic evidence of Kodela threatening the polling agents and officials on April 11 have surfaced recently and this has sent the TDP leaders into a tizzy as to what should be the next recourse.

It may be recollected ,Kodela Siva Prasad Rao had gone to the polling booth No. 160 at Inumetla and closed the doors of the booth. He was in the room for more than two hours stalling the voting procedure. This enraged the voters as they understood that he was rigging votes and revolted against the Speaker. Sensing the people's reaction Kodela had to flee from the violent crowds and left the place. However, using this to his advantage, Kodela staged a fainting drama with a torn shirt and said that the YSR Congress Party aides had abused him and hit him, which is why he had to hide in the polling booth for safety. Not stopping there Kodela saw to that the police file an attempt to murder case on them and he was let off as there was pressure from the higher ups to leave him as he was part of the ruling TDP.

When the video footage of him threatening the poll officials surfaced, he hurriedly called for a press meet and blamed the Election Officials calling it their mistake. He went to make absurd claims that the Central security forces were not sent to the state deliberately and causing this violence. But with the evidence against Kodela becoming stronger and with a case registered against him and 21 others by the Rajupalem police under sections 188, 143, 341, 448, 506 read with 149 IPC and other Acts in respect to the violence that took place, proved to be his undoing.

The complaint was filed by a YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) polling agent of Inumetla, Imam Vali that clearly stated that Kodela Siva Prasada Rao and 21 others intimidated the voters to vote for the TDP. He further said that a contestant from the Sattenapalli Assembly constituency, along with his supporter Nara Ramesh and the Speaker threatened the complainant and four other YSRCP agents at the polling booth.

Explaining further, the complainant said that they requested the presiding officer to send Kodela Siva Prasada Rao and his followers out of the polling booth after which they locked themselves for 45 minutes, not allowing the voters to exercise their vote. However, this resulted in a clash between the YSRCP and TDP activists.

The police also were left with no choice after seeing the footage and with complaint being registered, the police realized that they were wrong. Left with no choice Kodela had an emergency meeting with TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday to chalk out the next course of action to save himself. Opposition leaders, public welfare leaders and political analysts say that everyone are equal before law and Kodela Siva Prasad Rao is no less and that he and his aides should be arrested for the poll violence perpetuated by him on the day of elections.

Also Read: Polling Violence: Case Filed Against Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao