Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and YSRCP president and former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy traded allegations of intimidation and irregularities during the ongoing local body election nomination process.
Amid the political blame game, tension prevailed in Kuppam, the home constituency of Naidu in Chittoor district, on Monday during scrutiny of nominations for local body elections, with TDP and YSRCP workers allegedly engaging in an altercation near the nomination centre. Questioning the opposition’s approach to elections and legal challenges, Naidu referred to disputes over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and reservations for Backwards Classes (BCs). He also alleged that the party had repeatedly approached courts to delay administrative and electoral processes. Jagan Reddy, however, has accused the TDP-led coalition government of using official machinery and police to intimidate opposition candidates and prevent them from filing nominations. He has alleged that candidates and party leaders were attacked, nomination papers snatched and election procedures compromised. These allegations have been rejected by ruling-party leaders, who have accused the YSRCP of politicising the violence. The YSRCP chief has demanded the immediate imposition of President’s Rule in Andhra Pradesh, alleging a breakdown of constitutional machinery and law and order. He has also called for the deployment of central paramilitary forces to ensure free and fair local body elections, along with CCTV coverage of the entire election process. Police resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the rival groups. Several people were injured and shifted to hospitals in ambulances, while candidates and party workers ran for safety.
“Violence is in their DNA,” Naidu said, accusing the opposition of using allegations of injustice to obstruct the government’s functioning.
