If Chandrababu has courage, let YSRCP candidates file nominations: Satish Kumar Reddy

YSR Kadapa, Oct 19: YSRCP State General Secretary S.V. Satish Kumar Reddy challenged Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to personally ensure that opposition candidates are protected and allowed to file nominations if he has confidence in his government and public support.

Addressing the media at the YSRCP office in YSR Kadapa district, Satish Kumar Reddy said candidates were attacked in front of police and forced to arrange private security merely to file nominations. He said the Chief Minister and the police system should be ashamed that such a situation had developed, and charged that attacks and restrictions were being used to prevent YSRCP candidates from contesting freely.

Referring to Pulivendula, he said the YSRCP chairperson candidate and 22 councillor candidates filed nominations on the first day, while candidates from the remaining 18 wards were subsequently prevented from entering the municipal office. He said police had promised MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy time for filing nominations but failed to honour that assurance. He demanded a comprehensive inquiry into the lathi-charge, tear gas use, firing into the air and the registration of cases involving hundreds of YSRCP workers.

Satish Kumar Reddy also sought an investigation into the burning of vehicles near the YSRCP office in Rayachoti and questioned Chandrababu’s statements about people being brought from Punjab and Bihar. He said incidents of attacks, threats, arrests and nomination obstruction were reported in Kadapa, Rajampet, Rayachoti, Punganur, Tirupati, Palnadu, Badvel, Jammalamadugu, Yerraguntla and Pulivendula.

He questioned why restrictions were imposed on YSRCP leaders while people carrying sticks, knives and iron rods were allowed to move freely. He demanded protection for every candidate, action against those who obstructed nominations, and free and impartial future elections under the supervision of Central forces.