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Telugu Desam misusing official machinery: Upendra

Former Union minister and Congress candidate for the Vijayawada Lok Sabha seat P Upendra says he will lodge a complaint with the Election Commission about police harassment of his party activists and attempts by the ruling Telugu Desam Party to misuse official machinery.

Addressing the media in Vijayawada, he said 'innocent' Congress workers were being included in the rowdy-sheeters's list in order to brow-beat them. ''This will not be tolerated. I will complain to the Election Commission,'' he declared.

Besides misusing police machinery, Upendra, information and broadcasting minister in the V P Singh government, alleged that ruling party candidates have been attending law and order review meetings.

He said almost all the areas in the Kankipadu assembly segment, falling in his constituency, had been categorised as 'sensitive'. This, he claimed, was being done so that more police personnel could be posted at the polling booths to intimidate voters. ''On what basis can they call them sensitive when no clash has taken place during the last election?'' he questioned.

He also alleged that the ruling party was arranging for the supply of liquor. ''I will urge the EC and its observers to prevent the 'flow of liquor','' he said.

UNI

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