Cash-for-vote scam: Congress demands N Chandrababu Naidu's resignation

NEW DELHI: Congress today demanded resignation of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in the wake of allegations against him in the cash-for-vote scam and sought an inquiry by a sitting Supreme Court judge into the matter.

The AICC also questioned BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as to why they have been silent on the issue when the leader of their key ally at the Centre and Andhra Pradesh is involved.

Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza used the occasion to also target Telangana's ruling TRS. She told reporters that a probe is needed in the wake of a host of allegations against the TRG government including that of snooping and tapping of telephones.

She said that a judicial enquiry must be initiated by an SC judge in the scam and Naidu should step down as Chief Minister before the probe starts to ensure an impartial investigation.

Besides, she wanted the Andhra Assembly Speaker to go into the charges against a TDP leader.

"When a scam of such magnitude has come to the fore, why is the BJP and the Prime Minister keeping mum?" she asked. Oza alleged that both the TDP and TRS were resorting to "unconstitutional means" to stay in power.

The Andhra Pradesh chief minister was caught in a controversy in the wake of some news channels airing an audio recording of a purported conversation Naidu had with a nominated legislator seeking his vote in the Legislative Council elections.

In a fresh twist in the cash-for-votes scam, Andhra Pradesh police today registered a case against Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao over the alleged illegal tapping of the phones of his Andhra Pradesh counterpart.