Hyderabad: A week after the municipal election results were announced, an unusual post-poll drama is unfolding in several towns in Telangana. The defeated candidates allegedly go door to door asking residents to return the money and gifts they distributed during the election campaign.What began as quiet demands escalated in many places into heated confrontations. Some video clips were spread on social media showing some of the defeated candidates or their relatives demanding their money back, which sparked public anger.Reports of clashes between candidates and residents have emerged in Madchal Malkajgiri, Khammam, Suryapet, Peddapalli, Bhadradri Kottagudem, Jagtial and Nizamabad areas.
In several cases, residents said they had never claimed money or gifts given voluntarily, and it was not appropriate to return them.On the eve of the February 10 elections, candidates in some municipalities and districts allegedly distributed cash amounts ranging between Rs 2,500 and Rs 3,000 per vote. Pressure cookers and sarees were allegedly given to women voters. After the loss, some candidates—across party lines as well as independents—began to suspect that certain colonies did not support them.
One of the clips that went viral shows a man and woman attending a prominent party, carrying Indian sarees.
When interrogated, the woman was heard saying that if they got one vote, the opposition got four. In another video clip, a woman, believed to be a candidate, appears pressuring a voter to pledge to vote for her. After confirmation, the woman registered the voter’s name on the list.In Medchal Malkajgiri district, the candidate allegedly visited families shortly after the counting day, seeking payment. In Yelampet municipality near Hyderabad, the husband of a defeated independent candidate allegedly asked residents to either return the money or “swore” that they had voted for his wife.HyderabadAlthough the videos went viral on social media, state election commission officials said no formal complaints had been received, adding that they had not watched the videos.
