The Dharmapuri election is under scrutiny because of alleged irregularities during vote counting. A special officer from the Election Commission is investigating the missing keys of the strong room at JNTU in Kondagattu. This officer will submit a report to the Telangana High Court. The inquiry will cover events since 2018. Election Officer Bikshapathi and Congress candidate Adluri Lakshman Kumar were informed about this development by the election officer and district collector.
Kumar had previously alleged that irregularities occurred during vote counting, leading him to approach the court. The court ordered Bikshapathi to submit details of polling in EVMs and counting forms. The collector’s office received the court orders.
On April 10, Bikshapathi tried to open the strong room with district collector Yasmeen Basha present. Kumar then claimed that two keys to the strong room were missing, while the DC admitted that the locks were not opening. Kumar opposed breaking the locks. The district administration was unable to open the locks all day. The DC told the media that the administration would report the non-opening of locks to the court.
However, Kumar filed a petition with the court stating that the locks were not opening because of missing keys, not because they were broken. The court ordered an investigation into the matter, and a report is due on April 26.
