K A Paul files nomination for Munugode Assembly bypoll

MUNUGODE: Evangelist and Praja Shanti Party chief K A Paul on Friday took everyone by surprise by filing his nomination for the by-election to the Munugode Assembly constituency. The move came contrary to his original plans as he had earlier announced the candidature of Gaddar. The veteran balladeer was however conspicuous by his absence on Friday even as Paul claimed that the police had detained him in a bid to foil his nomination.

Friday was the last day for the filing of nominations which saw Congress party candidate Palvai Shravanthi, among several others, submitting the papers to the returning officer. Interestingly, the last day saw an unprecedented number of 27 nominations being filed, taking the grand total by the end to 86.

K A Paul, who descended on the returning officer's office, stunned the waiting media by declaring that he was filing the nomination instead of Gaddar on behalf of Praja Shanti Party. He blamed the police machinery besides the ruling TRS and the Congress for what he described as the denial of a chance to Gaddar to file his nomination papers. He claimed that the veteran balladeer was subjected to constant mental harassment in an attempt to dissuade him from entering the electoral fray. K A Paul, in his typical style, alleged that the police did not even allow his car to proceed to the returning officer's office, which forced him to come by a two-wheeler to file his nomination.