Andhra local body polls have been hit by allegations of violence, house arrests and obstruction of nomination filing, with the opposition YSRCP accusing police and ruling TDP workers of disrupting its candidates while the TDP rejected the claims and blamed the opposition for attempting to derail the election process.
The YSRCP said in a press release that senior leaders were placed under house arrest and candidates were prevented from reaching nomination centres for the upcoming Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency and Zilla Praja Parishad Territorial Constituency elections across Andhra Pradesh. It alleged that police selectively restricted its leaders while failing to act against people accused of attacks and intimidation.
In Kadapa district, the party alleged that MP YS Avinash Reddy was detained while attempting to assist candidates with nomination filing. It also said former MLA K Pedda Reddy was placed under house arrest in Anantapur district, while former minister Sake Sailajanath was confined to his residence in Singanamala.
The YSRCP further alleged that police restricted the movement of senior leaders in several districts to prevent them from accompanying candidates to nomination centres. In Tirupati district, it said Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy and Mohith Reddy were allegedly placed under house arrest in Chandragiri constituency, among other leaders.
The opposition party also reported incidents in Bapatla, Palnadu, Kurnool and other districts. At Nizampatnam in Bapatla, it alleged that TDP cadres tore nomination papers, damaged a vehicle and attacked opposition leaders, injuring three YSRCP leaders. In Pedakurapadu, the party said an MPTC candidate was forcibly taken away and several leaders were detained before they could reach nomination centres.
In Kurnool district, the YSRCP alleged that heaps of stones were dumped near the Mandal Parishad Development Office at Veldurthi, raising concerns about possible attacks on candidates. It also claimed that candidates in Kadapa were forcibly taken into custody and transported towards Tirupati before the nomination deadline. The party separately alleged irregularities in the municipal election process in Pithapuram.
The TDP rejected the allegations and accused the YSRCP of attempting to disrupt the election process because it feared defeat. It said district Collectors and Superintendents of Police would submit reports to the State Election Commission on allegations that candidates were prevented from filing nominations in 19 places.
According to the ruling party, violence was reported in Darsi, Punganur, Rayachoti, Kadapa and Pulivendula, and it blamed YSRCP leaders for the incidents. The TDP said the NDA coalition government remained committed to conducting the elections peacefully.
The dispute has implications beyond the contest between the two parties because MPTC and ZPTC elections determine representation in Andhra Pradesh’s rural local governance system. The YSRCP demanded that authorities ensure candidates can file nominations without obstruction and that the process is conducted fairly. The TDP said the facts would become clear after the reports from district officials are examined by the State Election Commission.
The TDP also accused YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy of trying to obstruct the election process through legal challenges. It warned that delays in holding the polls could affect the release of funds from the 16th Finance Commission intended for village and gram panchayat development.
