It is not enough that the elections are being held at the peak of the summer in India. Some members of the ruling TDP in the state of Andhra Pradesh, which goes to polls on April 11, want government employees to literally sweat it out ahead of the elections.
TDP leaders in CM Chandrababu Naidu's Kuppam constituency want ceiling fans removed from government offices as voters may spot the ceiling fan, suddenly realise that it is the party symbol of opposition leader Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSRCP, and get ‘influenced.’
Earlier this week, TDP leaders from Ramakuppam Mandal landed at the Tehsildar’s office with a letter that sought the removal ceiling fans from government offices.
“Since the ceiling fan is the symbol of the YSRCP, whoever comes into government offices would be influenced. So, election authorities must remove the YSRCP ceiling fan symbol from offices,” the letter said.
It is not clear yet if the TDP wants cycles, which is its own party symbol, and tumbler glasses, the Jana Sena’s symbol, banned as well.
Speaking to TNM, Ramakuppam Tehsildar Janardhan Shetti confirmed that the office has received a complaint against ceiling fans.
“They’re saying that since it is a party symbol, it would influence the voters who walk into these premises. We have reported the matter to the concerned Returning Officer. The Election Commission will act on such complaints,” Shetti said.
Chittoor District Revenue Officer Gangadhar Goud has termed the complaint as ‘frivolous’
“How practical will it be to ask that pens be prohibited because the pen is a party symbol? Tomorrow, someone will come and seeks that cycles or glasses be banned. These are necessities in regular life. They can only seek the removal of symbols if they are of a specific colour."