‘Cash for Votes’ wakes up AP Cabinet, shakes up security set up

The AP Cabinet, which met unusually for a long time on Tuesday, passed a resolution, condemning phone-tapping and also calling for implementation of Section 8 of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act relating to the role of the governor in maintaining law and order in common capital Hyderabad.

The resolution will be sent to the central government, with a demand for a probe into phone-tapping and necessary steps for implementing the act. The AP Government is also planning to highlight this issue during the discussions with the Centre.

The cabinet discussed at length the situation in the wake of release of an audio tape of Naidu' alleged telephonic conversation with Telangana's nominated legislator Elvis Stephenson in the cash-for-vote scam.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government has termed the audio tape as "fake", and accused the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government of indulging in phone-tapping of Naidu and other leaders.

Clearly stung by the Cash for Vote scam, Chandrababu Naidu has already ordered an overhaul of the security at his residence and also the intelligence set up in the state. The security set up at his residence has been overhauled and the intelligence and greyhounds set up has also been changed. An Additional SP level officer has been given the responsibility of surveillance at his residence.