EC directs police to take action against YSRCP MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy caught on camera smashing EVM

AMARAVATI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday directed Andhra Pradesh police to initiate action against YSRCP Macherla MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy who was caught on camera smashing an EVM at a polling booth on May 13, 2024.

While Electronic voting machines (EVMs) were damaged in seven polling stations in the Macherla constituency, the footage captured by webcasting showed Pinnelli entering the Palvai Gate polling station, booth number 202 in Rentachintala mandal of Palnadu district and smashing the EVM to the floor.

The ECI took serious note of this incident and directed the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Mukesh Kumar Meena to inform DGP Harish Kumar Gupta to take strict criminal action against all the persons involved. Following that orders were issued to take strict criminal action against those responsible.

“The video footage of all such polling stations was provided to the police by the Election authorities of Palnadu district to assist them in the investigation of the case. As reported by the police the name of the MLA has been included as accused during the investigation. The ECI has taken a very serious view and has directed the CEO Mukesh Kumar Meena to inform the DGP to take strict criminal action against all the persons involved in these incidents so that nobody in the future dares to take any such action to interfere in the peaceful conduct of the poll,” a statement issued by the CEO said.

As reported by the police, the name of Ramakrishna Reddy had been included as accused during the investigation.

Pinnelli for a judicial probe

Meanwhile, Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy in a statement said that he was ready for a judicial probe into the incident.

“The TDP has realised that it will not win in Palnadu. Hence, they resorted to violence and misleading the voters and the officials. I am ready for an inquiry into all incidents that occurred since the polling day,” he said.

The TDP on the other hand said that the election agent who resisted Ramakrishna Reddy from damaging the EVM was later attacked by the YSRCP men on the same day resulting in serious injuries on the head.

What is the trigger for the incident?

The YSR Congress party alleged that the party agents were evicted from the polling station and hounded out and thrashed. Because, the party agents objected to the ECI officials did not use the EVM that was tested for demonstration before the polling commenced. Instead, the polling staff used another EVM which enraged the YSR Congress agents. When they entered into an altercation, they alleged, the TDP agents and workers thrashed them and threw them out of the polling station.

On coming to know of this, the MLA stormed into the polling station and smashed the EVM and the VVPATs.