Telangana High Court on Tuesday declared as void the election of Vanama Venkateswara Rao as MLA from Kothagudem Assembly constituency in 2018 elections.
Pronouncing the verdict in an election petition, Justice G. Radha Rani of the HC declared Jalagam Venkat Rao, who lost to Mr. Vanama, as elected candidate with effect from December 12, 2018. The judge also imposed a fine amount of ₹5 lakh on Mr. Vanama as ‘penalty for filing false affidavit’.
Mr. Vanama won the 2018 Assembly election from Kothagudem on Congress ticket having secured 81,118 votes over his nearest rival Mr. Jalagam Venkat Rao of BRS who polled 76,979 votes. Some time after becoming MLA, Mr. Vanama joined the BRS. The HC judgement came even as the Election Commission of India is gearing up to hold Assembly polls in Telangana by this year-end.
