AMARAVATI: Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu held a dharna in front of the Chief Electoral Officer G. K. Dwivedi's office at the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat in Amravati to protest the “partisan, unilateral and undemocratic” action of the Election Commission of India.

also read: Amid tight security, Naxal Affected Bastar LS constituency is all set for Poll

Earlier, Naidu met CEO Gopal Krishna Dwivedi and submitted a memorandum to him, accusing the EC of acting "on behalf of the YSR Congress under the guidance of the BJP". After submitting the letter, Mr. Naidu came out and sat in a dharna. He told reporters that the ECI's “arbitrary” action in transferring IPS and IAS officers were a cause of concern to all those who believe in democracy and autonomy of the ECI. He denounced the "autocratic and partisan attitude" of the EC in handling election-related matters pertaining to the state.

In his letter to the ECI, Mr. Naidu alleged that the ECI was targeting TDP at the behest of the YSRCP and the BJP. “It was a matter of deep concern that country’s apex institution entrusted with the responsibilities of conducting free and fair elections has become subservient to the dictates of the BJP Government which is protecting the YSRCP,” he wrote.

"The commission should not fall prey to the baseless allegations of such a political party, the leader of which himself is involved in 31 criminal cases. The complaints filed by the TDP have not so far been attended to by the commission. The ECI was toeing the line of the BJP-led Union government, and also assisting the political parties which were supported by the BJP, he alleged.

also read: Smriti Irani and Sonia Gandhi is set to file her nomination papers, today