Hyderabad: BRS MLC Dr. Sravan Dasoju on Friday accused local police in Jubilee Hills of harassing BRS workers during election campaigning. He demanded that the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Telangana’s Director General of Police (DGP) take immediate action, calling the behaviour a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
Police intimidation of campaigners
Dr. Dasoju alleged that police officers across several Jubilee Hills localities had been threatening small groups of BRS volunteers. He said they were wrongly demanding prior permission even for door-to-door campaigning involving 10 to 15 people. “Police must protect democracy, not crush it under political pressure,” he said. “Their actions show a partisan misuse of police machinery by the ruling Congress.”
Violation of election guidelines
According to Dr. Dasoju, the police actions clearly breached the ECI’s Manual on Model Code of Conduct (2022). The manual, he noted, allows door-to-door campaigns by up to 50 people without prior permission as long as they do not block traffic or disturb public order. Furthermore, he reminded that the guidelines direct police and local authorities to remain neutral and ensure equal opportunity for all political parties.
“When peaceful campaigners are stopped, it’s not enforcement — it’s enforcement hijacked by politics,” he said. “This is not law and order; it is political control.”
Appeal for neutrality and corrective steps
Dr. Dasoju alleged that certain officers were acting under political influence to obstruct BRS activities and demoralise volunteers. Therefore, he appealed to the ECI, the Chief Electoral Officer, and the DGP to issue written instructions to all Station House Officers and field officers to permit peaceful campaigning.
He emphasised that police neutrality was essential for free and fair elections. “If officers act like agents of the ruling party, democracy will collapse,” he warned. “Their loyalty must remain with the Constitution, not with politicians.”
Demand for immediate action
Concluding his remarks, Dr. Dasoju urged the ECI and DGP to respond swiftly. “Let police not become pawns of politics. Let democracy breathe freely in Jubilee Hills,” he said.
