Amaravati, Oct 18 YSRCP chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday urged Governor S Abdul Nazeer to deploy Central forces and install CCTV surveillance throughout the local body election process, alleging that YSRCP candidates were being prevented from filing nominations while TDP supporters were allowed into nomination centres.
In a representation submitted at Lok Bhavan, Jagan said nominations could not be filed at all in eight places, while only 36 per cent of nomination papers were submitted in 19 places. In eight other places, the nomination papers of YSRCP candidates were allegedly torn up. In Pulivendula, only 19 nominations were filed across 36 wards, he said.
He apprised the Governor of the alleged mistreatment of YSRCP MPs Avinash Reddy, P V Midhun Reddy and M Gurumoorthy at nomination centres, police firing and the filing of serious cases against candidates. He alleged that active party workers were being targeted through a conspiracy to bind them over.
Addressing a press conference at the YSRCP central office in Tadepalli, Jagan accused the ruling TDP-led NDA coalition in Andhra Pradesh of resorting to undemocratic tactics because it feared defeat.
“The TDP-led NDA coalition is preventing opposition candidates from filing nominations for local body elections through attacks, intimidation and misuse of the police machinery,” he claimed.
Jagan alleged that YSRCP candidates had their nomination papers snatched away, while party workers and their associates were attacked, kidnapped and intimidated. He accused the ruling party of arson and of filing false cases against opposition workers, allegedly with the police’s knowledge.
He alleged that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, lacking confidence in the people’s mandate, was using government officials, police personnel and TDP supporters to influence the election process. Describing the developments as acts of anarchy, he said they showed that Naidu lacked confidence and was resorting to undemocratic practices.
“Denying people who wish to contest the opportunity to do so is a stain on democracy,” he said.
Jagan alleged that YSRCP MPs and party workers were obstructed in Kadapa, Punganur and Tirupati, where nomination papers were either seized or not accepted, vehicles were attacked and supporters assaulted.
In Pulivendula, he alleged, police personnel acted in favour of the TDP, threw stones and fired in the air to intimidate candidates who had come to file their nominations. He termed the alleged firing during the nomination process unprecedented.
He alleged that TDP supporters were allowed to gather in groups, while YSRCP workers were barred from entering nomination centres despite being accompanied by the four persons permitted under the rules. Government officials, police personnel and ruling party workers had colluded to stop YSRCP candidates from filing their papers, he said.
Jagan said that on the final day of nominations, YSRCP candidates were still unable to file their papers in several places—Tirupati, Kadapa, Kamalapuram, Rayachoti, Punganur, Darsi, Gurazala, Dachepalli, Piduguralla, Badvel and Rajampet.
Referring to previous local body elections, the LoP said the YSRCP had secured a strike rate of more than 90 per cent when N Ramesh Kumar, whom he described as a staunch TDP supporter, was the State Election Commissioner.
The ruling coalition was now resorting to similar tactics despite having an Election Commissioner whom he described as loyal to the TDP, he said.
Jagan questioned the appointment of Election Commissioners by political authorities, arguing that the system had structural flaws that undermined free and fair elections.
Questioning the election schedule, he alleged that it was announced a day after reservation details were released, leaving opposition parties little time to prepare while the government had prior access to the information.
He claimed that although the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) had identified 46 lakh fake voters, the government had decided to proceed with the elections using an unrevised electoral roll. He alleged that the delimitation of divisions and wards had been carried out to favour the ruling NDA coalition.
Calling the situation a passing phase, Jagan warned that those responsible for the alleged irregularities would be held accountable.
He urged party workers to continue their fight, expressing confidence that the situation would change, and said the YSRCP would pursue legal remedies to challenge the alleged irregularities and safeguard candidates’ right to contest.
He claimed that the YSRCP had fulfilled its manifesto commitments before seeking another mandate, in contrast to the TDP, which he accused of failing to honour its poll promises.
He commended those resisting what he described as undemocratic governance and appealed to the public and all concerned to ensure that everyone willing to contest was allowed to file nominations.
There was no immediate reaction from the ruling TDP.
Elections to 100 urban local bodies will be held on October 28, with results on October 30. Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) elections are scheduled for November 3, with counting on November 5.
Gram panchayat elections will be held in three phases on November 26, November 29 and December 2, with results declared on the day of each phase.
(PTI News)
