Coalition mocking electoral process

Nellore, Oct 25:YSRCP has flayed the coalition government for making a mockery of the election process by indulging in all kinds of malpractices and warned that it will explore all avenues besides fighting it out in the people's court.

Speaking to the media here on Sunday, former Minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy said Chandrababu Naidu is scared of the Opposition, as his party did not dare to field candidates in the previous local body polls because YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had rolled out extensive welfare schemes and people were content.

This time, due to the failures of the coalition government on all fronts, our candidates have entered the fray following the call given by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. This has become an eyesore for Chandrababu Naidu, prompting him to direct the official machinery to play foul in the election process.

Even after the Supreme Court's directives, there has been no change in the pattern of atrocities in the local body polls. The same malpractices of preventing our candidates from filing nomination papers continue. If someone manages to cross that hurdle, goons snatch away or tear up their nomination papers. If a candidate manages to overcome that obstacle as well, the Returning Officer rejects the nomination papers on one flimsy ground or another.

In the subsequent phases, candidates are being arrested and threatened, while some of our active leaders are being kept in jail.

Despite the apex court's admonition, Chandrababu Naidu has not learnt any lesson and continues with his old tactics while making uncalled-for remarks.

We are exploring all our options and will move forward. We will not back out of the polls, he said.