Cash For Votes Scam: Is The Noose Tightening Around Chandrababu’s Neck?

The noose may tighten around Chandrababu Naidu's neck. Media reports of Telangana Chief Minister, K. Chandrashekhara Rao's review of the Notes-for-Votes case, have triggered a fresh round of speculation on the likely action against Andhra Pradesh chief minister.

It was reported that KCR held a prolonged meeting at Pragathi Bhavan in the state capital on Monday in which ACB officials, as also senior officers of the law department were said to be present. It was also said that the state has forensic evidence conclusively identifying Chandrababu Naidu's voice on his reported conversation with a nominated MLC during the MLC elections.

The news of this meeting set the proverbial cat among the Telugu Desam pigeons. The imminent likelihood of the Damocles sword coming down on Chandrababu's neck, is sending a shiver down the collective spine of the TDP, to mix metaphors.

The fact is that the Telangana government has been slow to act in this matter. There can be little doubt in this matter. When the Cash for Vote scandal first hit the scene, the taped conversation at the crux of the issue, was telecast and its transcripts were all over the media. It was expected that Chandrababu would be charged, but as senior YSRCP leader Bhumana Karunakar Reddy pointed out, that was not to be. Not only was he not charge-sheeted, he was not even called in for questioning by the Telangana police.

This seeming laxity on the part of the Telangana government led to a widespread belief that Chandrababu had struck some sort of an understanding with KCR. As a result, it appeared, he moved post-haste to Amaravati, which was barely in place. Let us not forget that from the time of bifurcation of the state, Chandrababu Naidu had been very vocal in the first few months about Section 8 of the AP State Reorganisation Act, as also about Hyderabad as joint capital for fifteen years. There was talk of police stations of AP in Hyderabad under provisions of the act. Suddenly, the TDP guns fell silent.

Is the fear of the cash-for-Votes case getting revived giving Chandrababu Naidu sleepless nights? It appears so, according to YSRCP MLA from Nagaram, Roja. She remarked that as a diversionary step, Chandrababu is resorting to protests for SCS to AP and injustice to the state.

Isn't it true that a petition demanding a CBI probe into the Notes-for-Votes scam, has reached the apex court? In all the cases against him, he has so far got by with the help of stay orders, as YSRCP leaders have repeatedly pointed out, but cleverly claims that he doesn't have a single case against him. Chandrababu has survived up until now like the proverbial cat with nine lives. Is the noose finally beginning to tighten around his neck? Let us see how events will soon unfold....