Trouble for Razole MLA Rapaka Vara Prasad; ECI seeks report on fake voting claims

RAZOLE: Razole MLA Rapaka Vara Prasada Rao has landed himself in big-time trouble with his recent over-exuberant claims on how fake voters helped his victory in the 2019 election. Taking cognisance of a viral video featuring the Jana Sena rebel MLA, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed the Konaseema District Collector in Andhra Pradesh to submit a detailed report on this.

The ECI has asked for the report on the video in which the MLA was seen openly claiming how a handful of fake voters helped his cause. Speaking at an event in March, 2023, the lone Jana Sena legislator, who has deserted his party soon after his election and is leaning towards the YSRCP, made the sensational claims in a cavalier manner. He claimed that a gang of 15-20 fake voters came to his native village Chinthalamori and each one had cast anywhere between 5 and 10 illegal votes. He also quipped that fake voting (vote rigging) too played its part in his victory. The video of his explosive comments immediately went viral garnering widespread attention.

But to his misery, a complaint was lodged with the ECI by one Venkatapathi Raju of Razole. The complainant demanded Vara Prasada Rao’s disqualification since he himself had admitted to electoral malpractices. Reacting to the complaint, the ECI has asked the Konaseema District Collector to submit a detailed report within a week on the controversy.