Coalition rigged Municipal polls with bogus votes: SV Mohan Reddy

Kurnool, Nov 2: YSRCP Kurnool district president SV Mohan Reddy slammed the ruling coalition for destroying democracy through bogus voting, violence and police intimidation during municipal elections. Addressing the media at the YSRCP district office in SV Complex, he questioned why the coalition resorted to such excesses instead of winning public support.

He said the atrocities began during nominations, with papers torn, women candidates attacked and B-forms obstructed. On polling day, YSRCP agents’ appointment forms were destroyed, agents forcibly expelled and women candidates mistreated. Around 150 coalition supporters were deployed at polling centres to cast bogus votes, while police threatened YSRCP agents who objected.

YSRCP leaders faced preventive arrests, house arrests and midnight detentions, with some released only on polling morning. Police even obstructed YSRCP leaders travelling by scooter with the mayoral candidate, while ministers and coalition leaders moved freely.

Mohan Reddy criticised the SEC, DGP and police authorities for favouring the ruling coalition. CCTV cameras were absent at several polling stations despite Supreme Court directions, while some were installed only outside booths. YSRCP representatives were also denied access to strong rooms, raising serious concerns over ballot security and counting transparency.

He demanded vote counting under central government officials’ supervision and free, fair MPTC and ZPTC elections to restore public confidence in democracy.