Cash-for-vote scam may rock Parliament session

Hyderabad, July 16: The sensational cash-for-vote scam, in which TDP leaders allegedly offered bribe to nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson, is likely to rock the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament with Congress demanding a CBI probe. AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi convened a meeting with Congress leaders of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in Delhi yesterday as Parliament session will start on July 21. Rahul held separate parleys with the leaders from the Telugu states and discussed the scam and Rajahmundry stampede in which 27 persons died. The leaders were told to submit reports on both the issues. According to sources, Rahul reportedly inquired on the delay in investigation even after the alleged tapes were broadcast on TV channels and a TDP MLA was caught offering a bribe to a TRS MLA. The leaders informed Rahul that action was not initiated even after six weeks and expressed doubts on the progress of investigation. TPCC chief Uttam Kumar Reddy, CLP leader Jana Reddy, MLC Shabbir Ali met the party State in-charge Digvijay Singh at AICC officice in New Delhi and later met Rahul Gandhi and explained the political situation in the state. APCC chief Raghuveera Reddy and MLC C Ramachandraiah separately met Rahul and complained that stampede occurred due to Chandrababu. When contacted, TPCC chief Uttam Kumar Reddy confirmed that Rahul will raise cash-for-vote, defections and constitutional violations issues in the upcoming Parliament session.