I-T sleuths raid residence of aide of Telangana minister Jagadish Reddy in run-up to Munugode bypoll

Jagadish Reddy has been in the eye of a storm for some time now, with the Election Commission of India (ECI) asking him not to either address any press conference or public meeting in the wake of his controversial remarks that if the people did not support the TRS candidate, all welfare schemes that are in force now would be suspended and they would have to suffer.

The ECI, in its restraining order, had said it deplored the statement of Jagadish Reddy, and that it prohibited him from holding any public meetings, processions, road shows, rallies, and interviews for 48 hours from 7 pm on 29 October, invoking Article 324 of the Constitution.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, while addressing a major election rally in Chandur on Sunday, deplored the ECI barring Jagadish Reddy from campaigning for the TRS in the by-election, and wondered what crime he had committed to be punished in this fashion.

As the ban was in force, Jagadish Reddy was not seen on the dais from where the chief minister spoke.

After the deadline expired on Monday night, Jagadish Reddy lashed out at the Centre for misusing statutory institutions, but was careful in avoiding naming the ECI or the I-T Department.

He said: “Sensing imminent defeat in Munugode, the BJP was trying to resort to illegal acts, misusing the constitutional bodies.”

This, even as the TRS is tipped to win the Munugode by-election, which in turn is expected to signal which way the political winds are blowing in Telangana, which will see Assembly elections in about a year.