Amaravati, Nov 5: YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has strongly criticised the Chandrababu Naidu-led coalition government, alleging large-scale irregularities, intimidation and rigging in the recent local body elections. Addressing a press conference, Jagan questioned whether the state had witnessed genuine democratic elections or merely a selection process controlled by the ruling party.
He alleged that the government had completely undermined the principle of free and fair elections through the misuse of official machinery, police pressure and political violence. Comparing the alleged manipulation to Shakuni’s dice game in the Mahabharata, Jagan accused Chandrababu Naidu of weakening democratic institutions to secure political victories.
Unfulfilled Promises Behind Election Rigging, Alleges Jagan
Jagan alleged that the coalition government was afraid of facing voters because it had failed to fulfil its election promises. He recalled that the TDP-led alliance had promised 143 assurances under its Super Six and Super Seven campaign, distributing bond papers to households before the 2024 elections.
According to Jagan, the alliance had promised financial assistance to women, children and farmers from June 2024 but failed to deliver several major commitments after coming to power. He claimed that the fear of public anger over unfulfilled promises had forced the government to manipulate the election process.
YSRCP Alleges Irregularities from Nomination Stage
Jagan alleged that election-related intimidation began immediately after the announcement of the election schedule. Thousands of YSRCP leaders and workers were reportedly summoned to police stations in the name of preventive binding-over cases and threatened with arrests.
He further accused the police of supporting ruling party leaders and preventing opposition candidates from filing nominations. During scrutiny, Returning Officers allegedly removed documents, forged signatures, rejected valid nominations and pressured candidates to withdraw from the contest.
Jagan also criticised the State Election Commission (SEC), alleging that it failed to act independently and allowed the ruling party to influence the election process.
YSRCP Raises Questions Over Municipal and Parishad Elections
Jagan presented several figures to support his allegations of election manipulation.
In municipal and corporation elections, he claimed that YSRCP chairperson candidates were prevented from filing nominations in 17 municipalities. He further alleged that 22 municipalities and corporations were declared unanimous without allowing proper political competition.
In Pulivendula Municipality, which has 40 wards, nominations were reportedly allowed in only 20 wards, according to Jagan.
In ZPTC and MPTC elections, he alleged that the ruling party secured 84 ZPTC seats and 2,109 MPTC seats uncontested by preventing opposition candidates from participating.
He also claimed that opposition candidates were arrested and polling agents were prevented from entering polling booths on election day.
Supreme Court Orders and CCTV Coverage Under Question
Jagan questioned the implementation of Supreme Court directions regarding CCTV surveillance at nomination centres, scrutiny locations, withdrawal centres, polling stations and counting centres.
According to the figures presented by him, only 5,737 of the 11,378 municipal polling stations had CCTV cameras. He further alleged that nearly half of the installed cameras were not functioning properly.
In ZPTC and MPTC elections, the government reportedly provided CCTV coverage at only 16,064 out of 31,460 polling stations. Jagan questioned how transparent elections could be conducted without proper surveillance.
District-Wise Election Rigging Allegations
During the press conference, Jagan presented photographs and video footage from several districts, alleging that YSRCP polling agents were forcibly removed, voters were intimidated and bogus voting took place.
In Anantapur district, he cited incidents in Sodanapalli, Kuderu and Muratla, alleging that polling agents were removed and police personnel supported ruling party activities.
In Prakasam district, he referred to Veligandla, Huseinapuram, Darsi, Tallur, Shivarampuram, HM Padu, Kondapi and Santhanuthalapadu, where YSRCP agents were allegedly removed from polling stations. He also presented footage from Chinamanagundam in Markapuram, claiming that bogus votes were cast with police support.
In Kurnool district, he alleged that agent forms were torn and YSRCP representatives were attacked in Sunkesula and Chippagiri.
In Tirupati and Annamayya districts, Jagan referred to alleged bogus voters being caught in Chandragiri’s Sainagar, rigging in Pileru and the removal of polling agents in Chowdepalle.
In the Pulivendula region of YSR Kadapa district, he alleged that voters faced police lathi charges, intimidation and attacks. He also referred to incidents in Achivellli, Vemula, Lingala and Motnuthalapalli.
In Railway Koduru, he alleged that petrol bombs were used in Nallapureddypalli village of Penagaluru. Similar allegations of attacks and arrests were raised in Pattupuram and Tekkali in Srikakulam district.
Allegations of Vote Cycling and Chemical Use
Jagan accused the ruling party of using organised methods to manipulate polling. Referring to previous municipal elections, he alleged that vote cycling took place in Anantapur, Chittoor and Tirupati.
He claimed that chemicals were used near polling stations in Tirupati to erase indelible ink marks quickly, allowing individuals to cast multiple votes.
He also recalled the Pulivendula municipal election, alleging that polling agents were removed from 70 of the 80 booths, enabling the ruling party to take control of the polling process.
Journalists Attacked While Covering Elections
Jagan also raised concerns over attacks on media personnel covering election irregularities.
He alleged that India Today journalist Abdul Basheer, video journalist Vijay, NTV reporters Suresh and Akram, and Sakshi Executive Editor Ismail were physically attacked by ruling party supporters.
Questioning the police response, he asked why those responsible had not been arrested despite the availability of video footage and CCTV evidence.
Jagan Questions Sudden Changes in Polling Percentages
One of the major concerns raised during the press conference was the alleged sudden increase in polling percentages after voting hours.
In Visakhapatnam, Jagan said the polling figure stood at 9,19,367 votes, or 51.46%, at 5 PM on Sunday. It reportedly increased to 9,45,915 by 9:30 PM and reached 10,35,154 votes, or 56.3%, by 9:30 AM the following morning.
He questioned the addition of 1,15,787 votes overnight.
He also highlighted discrepancies in several other locations:
- Chimakurthy: Polling reportedly increased from 78.28% at 11 PM to 84.36% by midnight.
- Jammalamadugu: Nearly 60% polling was reportedly recorded by 11 AM.
- Addanki: Polling allegedly increased from 19% to 56.7% within two hours, with 11,958 votes recorded.
- Dharmavaram: Polling reportedly increased from 8% to 36.36% within two hours.
- Chilakaluripet: The percentage allegedly rose from 7% to 37%.
- Parvathipuram: Polling reportedly increased from 12% to 44%.
Jagan also questioned the counting process in Chittoor Municipal Corporation. He alleged that although 92,900 votes were officially reported, nearly 7,000 additional votes were found at counting tables. He further claimed that counting agents were forcibly removed before the results were declared.
Jagan Criticises Chandrababu Government Over Welfare Failures
Moving beyond the elections, Jagan criticised the coalition government over what he described as failures in governance and welfare delivery.
He alleged that several welfare schemes introduced during the previous YSRCP government, including YSR Asara, Cheyutha, Kapu Nestham, EBC Nestham and zero-interest loans, had been discontinued or neglected.
He also criticised the implementation of Vidya Deevena and Vasathi Deevena, the failure to provide the promised monthly unemployment allowance of Rs. 3,000 and the alleged neglect of farmers.
Jagan raised concerns over pending government employee benefits, including five Dearness Allowance instalments and approximately Rs. 40,000 crore in dues, as stated during his press conference.
He also accused the government of weakening the volunteer and village secretariat systems and neglecting the Aarogyasri healthcare programme.
The former Chief Minister further alleged that the government was compromising public assets by putting medical colleges, ports, fishing harbours and valuable government lands up for sale.
Cyclone Relief and Public Safety Also Come Under Criticism
Jagan accused the coalition government of failing to respond effectively to natural disasters.
He claimed that recent cyclones had caused casualties and disrupted electricity supplies in several villages. He alleged that even after ten days, around 150 villages had not received electricity restoration following Cyclone Arnab.
He also questioned the delay in providing compensation to farmers affected by Cyclone Montha, which had occurred 13 months earlier, according to his remarks.
‘Save Andhra, Save Democracy’: Jagan’s Final Message
Referring to the protest outside the Pulivendula Returning Officer’s office over the alleged removal of polling agents, Jagan said that cases registered against him would not stop his fight for democracy.
He warned that if the ruling government could allegedly take away nomination papers and voting rights today, citizens’ property documents could also be at risk in the future.
Concluding his press conference, Jagan said that the coalition government might have secured victories by using power and suppressing democratic rights, but the YSRCP leaders and workers who stood up against the alleged injustice had won the support of the people.
He ended with a strong appeal: “Hey Ram… Save Andhra, Save Democracy.”
