Prakash Raj, Manchu Vishnu spat over MAA postal ballet issue

Ahead of the Movie Artists Association (MAA), actors Prakash Raj and Manchu Vishnu are engaged in a war of words on the postal ballot issue. Prakash Raj along with Srikanth and Jeevitha Rajashekar complained to the 'MAA' election officer against Manchu Vishnu panel. Raj alleged that Manchu Vishnu panel is violating the election. Postal ballet is being misused in MAA elections

Hyderabad: The 'MAA (movie artists association)' elections will be on October 10 in the Tollywood industry. Some pertaining political issues were believed to have led to the war of words between actors Manchu Vishnu and Prakash Raj about the upcoming election.

Prakash Raj along with Srikanth and Jeevitha Rajashekar complained to the 'MAA' election officer against Manchu Vishnu panel. Raj alleged that Manchu Vishnu panel is violating the election. "Manchu Vishnu is doing conspiracy in postal ballots for MAA election rules was trying to get 60 people to vote in his favour with the help agents," Raj added.

Postal ballet is being misused in MAA elections. Those who are above the age of 60 will be eligible for the postal ballot facility. Vishnu's panel has been taking the signs of members who have the eligibility for the postal ballot. "Yesterday a person on behalf of Vishnu's panel paid the postal ballet money of 56 members each Rs500 in the evening. Those persons should actually write the letter to MAA, that he is paying the money... If he wants to vote through postal ballot. He paid the money of actors Krishna, Krishnam Raju, Sharada, and Paruchuri. Krishnam Raju, Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna should answer on this issue," Prakash Raj said.

Manchu Vishnu explained the importance and the requirement of the postal ballot in MAA elections. Senior artists and actors in the Tollywood industry requested the postal ballot voting—as there are 180 members in the association who are above the age of 60. He alleged that Prakash Raj complicated each issue in MAA.

"I wrote a letter to MAA and requested to not conduct a vote by EVM's. Some of the MAA panel members requested postal ballet. There is a scope to count the postal ballet many times. Some hundred members are ready to vote directly and some are showing interest in the postal ballot. The election officer said Rs500 should be paid for using the postal ballot. The voting procedure is going on legally as advised. I requested for postal ballet because I believe there are chances for tampering with EVMs," Vishu added.

On this issue election officer, Krishna Mohan said that "postal ballet is introduced because of the Covid pandemic. As many as 125 members are in MAA who are above 60 years. Around 60 members requested postal ballet. Those will be sent to them this evening. They are required to pay Rs500 each as the bank account details have already been sent to them."

Mohan also said senior members do not have any idea regarding the bank payment procedure so they called upon Vishnu. Mohan alleges that a person paid the amount for 56 members which are against the rules. The procedure requires a single person to pay for the ballot they are using. Hence the money is duly returned to the concerned person paying for all 56 members. The voting was not stopped as the process could not be cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic.