TDP indulging in 'horse-trading': YSR Congress MP

YSR Congress MP V Vijayasai Reddy today filed a complaint with the Election Commission, alleging that the ruling TDP in Andhra Pradesh was indulging in "horse-trading" by trying to lure his party's legislators.
He met Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Om Prakash Rawat here and submitted a memorandum in this regard.
The MP also requested the CEC to conduct in Hyderabad the elections for the three Rajya Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh that would fall vacant in April.
Reddy alleged that the TDP would continue the practice of horse-trading if the polls were held in the new capital city of Amaravati.

"We have no faith that the TDP will allow the polls to be held in a free and fair way in Amaravati. Since Hyderabad is the joint capital till 2024 we request you to hold the polls there," he said in the memorandum.
The leader said that the TDP was allegedly "involved in such practices for the last three years".

Twenty-three MLAs and three Lok Sabha MPs have defected to the ruling TDP in the last three years, he said, claiming that a number of complaints had been lodged the Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly.
The TDP has sufficient MLAs in the Assembly to win two seats in the Upper House, but it is falling short of members for the third seat, the MP claimed.

"The TDP is indulging in horse-trading and has stepped up its activity to lure our MLAs to ensure they win the third seat even through rigging. We also request you to provide police protection to our MLAs till they reach polling booths in Hyderabad," Reddy said.
The party also requested the CEC to appoint a senior central observer and deployment the Central Reserve Police Force personnel.