Badvel Bypoll: ‘Bogus voters’ Continue To Haunt YCP

Though confident of winning the Badvel bypoll, the ruling YCP apparently has set a victory with much higher margin than it achieved in 2019 general elections. To achieve this goal, ministers including Peddireddy Ramchandra Reddy, Adimulapu Suresh, Narayana Swamy and a few legislators camped in the constituency for poll management.

A few hours after the polling began, the BJP complained of bogus voters reaching the polling booths to cast their votes. BJP MP C.M. Ramesh alleged that the police colluded with the YCP men to facilitate fake voters into the booths.

In fact, winning the Badvel segment is a cakewalk for the YCP with the TDP and Jana Sena deciding to stay away from the poll, as a mark of respect towards Dr Dasari Sudha, wife of Dr G Venkata Subbaiah of YCP. The bypolls were necessitated following the death of Dr Subbaiah.

The BJP and Congress fielded Panathala Suresh, a local leader, and former legislator PM Kamalamma, respectively.

Though winning the MLA seat was an easy task, YCP bogus voters allegedly entered the scene only to ensure a higher margin for the party. Winning with a huge margin means more support to the YCP. By aiming at a thumping majority, the YCP is trying to decimate the opposition parties, pointed out senior political leaders, adding that it was not a good precedent.

Even during the Tirupati bypoll, there were allegations of rampant bogus voting. The YCP was certain that it would win the Tirupati MP seat too but it aimed at a margin of a whopping 5 lakh votes. However, it could win with a margin of only 2.7 lakh vote majority against TDP candidate Panabaka Lakshmi.

Crushing the opposition by securing absolute majority seems to be the credo of YCP but it is not a good practice in a democracy, feel political observers. A government without an opposition party will gradually become autocratic and this is not a good trend, say political analysts.