Chandrababu has spilled electoral Beans: Lok Satta

Telugu Desam Party President N. Chandrababu Naidu has let the cat out of the bag when he openly admitted that his party found contesting by-elections tough as it has been out of power for eight years, said the Lok Satta Party today.

By inference Mr. Chandrababu conceded that a party in power which amassed illegal money had no problem in squandering it in elections, pointed out Lok Satta Party General Secretary Katari Srinivasa Rao in a media statement.

The TDP, given to distributing illegal money in sachets, feels outsmarted by the YSR Congress, which doles out money in bags. Mr. Chandrababu seems to be pouring out his agony over the YSR Congress and the Congress Party now in power spending huge amounts in elections.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao said that those who sow the wind reap the whirlwind. If Andhra Pradesh has become notorious for splurging black money in elections, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu is one of those who have to share the blame. That all traditional parties including the TDP spent Rs.70 crore in the recent by-election to the Kovur Assembly seat is an open secret. Cash worth millions of rupees was seized from a TDP leader's residence. Media reports talked of the traditional parties spending up to Rs.200 crore in the seven by-elections to the Assembly.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao recalled that no traditional party including the TDP has so far responded to the Lok Satta call for abjuring distribution of money and liquor in elections. If Mr. Chandrababu is sincere and serious, he should join hands with the Lok Satta Party for cleansing the political and electoral system.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao appealed to media and civil society to ponder wherefrom parties like the Congress, TDP and YSR Congress raised money for holding meetings and rallies, and distributing money and liquor during elections.