Anantapur MP and senior Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader did something quite unexpected on Monday. After a party meeting headed by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu in Amaravati, Diwakar told the media that he wanted to reduce cash for votes in his constituency. Why? Because he’s too tired of bribing voters.
"All parties have spent Rs 50 crore in each constituency,” he said. “It’s such a routine practice that no party is less or more in this respect. In the recent elections, parties have spent at least Rs 10,000 crore across all 175 constituencies in the state," he told reporters.
However, when his audience asked what about his and his party’s expenditure, Diwakar said, “It's not just me. My father, grandfather – everyone had to spend that much. How much I spent is not relevant. He, you and I, we've all spent. Are you trying to get me in trouble with the Income Tax department? In every constituency, at least Rs 50 crore has been spent."
He also placed the blame on voters, saying they blatantly ask parties for money and bribes to cast their ballot in the party’s favour. "Some people are coming and seeking more money saying others are offering more. They're saying he (opposition candidate) is giving Rs 2,500 [per vote] and everyone should not give same amount."
"The condition is such that if they (voters) are served food that has been cooked two hours earlier, they do not want it. Everything has to be hot," he added.
Diwakar also claimed that cash for votes had affected the chief minister as well. “Chandrababu Naidu announced 120 schemes. What is his situation now? He went through so much trouble, did anyone see his troubles? Did anyone welcome him? They (voters) asked him how much [money] will you give?”
He urged people to come forward to fight corruption and decrease the expenditure during elections. “When this much corruption is taking place should people be just spectators? Someone should come forward to fight,” he urged.
The politician said that it's the responsibility of politicians, educationists, intellectuals and youngsters to tackle corruption in the state.
In the recent polls in the state, Diwakar abstained from contesting and the TDP instead fielded his son, Pawan Reddy, for the Anantapur Lok Sabha seat.
Diwakar Reddy had made headlines in June 2017, when he was caught on camera manhandle staff members of Indigo, a private airline, at the Visakhapatnam airport. Following the incident, he was banned from multiple domestic airlines. The ban was later revoked, although he didn't offer an apology. The MP is also a businessman and co-owner of Diwakar Travels.