Hyderabad: Telangana high court has directed State Election Commission and the Rangareddy collector to provide an update on the election status of municipal chairman and vice chairman in Ibrahimpatnam municipality, located on the outskirts of the city.Justice NV Shravan Kumar passed the directions while hearing a petition filed by Tekula Sudarshan Reddy, who alleged that although ward councillors elected him as chairman through a show of hands, election officials had failed to make an official announcement.Reddy’s counsel argued that while disposing of a habeas corpus filed in connection with one of the councillors, Yadagiri, who was allegedly kidnapped, the court cleared the way to proceed with the election process. Claiming that Reddy was in clear majority to the chairman post, he urged the court direct authorities to complete the process and declare him as the chairman.Appearing for Election Commission, senior counsel Vidyasagar argued that the court should not decide the matter based on the photos submitted by the petitioner, but according to the rules in the Telangana Municipal Act.Meanwhile, Yadagiri’s counsel submitted that BRS leader and Ibrahimpatnam former MLA Manchireddy Kishan Reddy and his son Prashanth Kumar Reddy kidnapped Yadagiri and some other councillors, and took them to Bapatla in AP.Even when Yadagiri’s son came to meet them, he was not allowed, the counsel added. The counsel further added that though Yadagiri requested an opportunity to be the chairman, Kishan Reddy refused.Taking note of the submissions, the judge directed that a clear decision could not be made until the district election officer filed a counter and adjourned the matter to Friday for further hearing.
