Candidate demands return of distributed money from voters after losing election

A strange incident has emerged in Andhra Pradesh following the municipal elections, where a defeated candidate has demanded the return of money he claims to have distributed during his campaign. According to an NDTV report, K. Reddy Prasad, contesting from Ward 32 of Palmeneru Municipality in Chittoor district on behalf of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), made this shocking disclosure.

K. Reddy Prasad was defeated by Janasena Party candidate Pula Chaitanya Mohan in this election. In an attempt to explain his loss, Prasad released a video message on social media, which has now gone viral. In this video, he admitted that he had borrowed ₹10 lakh at high interest rates and gave ₹1,000 to every voter so that they would vote for him.

Despondent over his defeat, Prasad alleged that approximately 400 voters had accepted money from him but did not vote for him on polling day. Warning in the video, he said, "The 400 people who took my money but did not vote for me should return that money. If they do not, I will hold a protest outside your house."

Furthermore, Prasad claimed that some voters had taken an oath in the name of the local deity Maremmathalli before accepting the money, but subsequently supported rival candidates. He has requested these voters to come to the Maremmathalli temple and return his money. Despite the controversy, Prasad congratulated the winning candidate and expressed hope that the new representative would develop the ward. He also thanked the district authorities and election officials for conducting the elections peacefully.

K. Reddy Prasad stated that he had promised to establish a drinking water plant for the ward and wanted to fulfill that promise. He also alleged that local political middlemen had misled him during the campaign.

This entire incident has come to light following the results of the local body elections held on November 1, with counting conducted on November 3. The election saw dominance by the alliance led by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Out of the total 36 wards of Palmeneru Municipality, TDP won 26, YSRCP won 8, and Janasena won 2 seats. Additionally, TDP candidate C. Rajyalakshmi won the post of Municipal Chairperson with a majority of 3,475 votes.

When K. Reddy Prasad's video went viral, Chittoor district YSRCP president N. Venkat Gowda took immediate action. He has suspended Prasad from the party, accusing him of anti-party activities.