Police turned into TDP Puppets, Democracy destroyed in Parishad Polls: TJR Sudhakar Babu

Tadepalli, Nov 5: YSRCP SC Cell State President and former MLA TJR Sudhakar Babu slammed the Chandrababu Naidu-led coalition for reducing the Andhra Pradesh police machinery to puppets of the ruling TDP and destroying democracy in the ongoing MPTC and ZPTC elections.

Addressing the media at the YSRCP central office, he said the coalition's fear of electoral defeat had driven unprecedented misuse of police power, intimidation, booth capturing and rigging across the state. Even polling stations with no history of violence were witnessing attacks and clashes.

From Anantapur to Srikakulam, YSRCP leaders, candidates and workers were being detained, served notices and placed under house arrest, while TDP leaders and hired goons were given a free hand to capture polling booths. He said Chandrababu Naidu, Nara Lokesh and Pawan Kalyan were deliberately targeting YSRCP strongholds to create disturbances.

Sudhakar Babu condemned DSP Murali Nayak for obstructing YSRCP MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy in Kadapa district. He highlighted the tearing of polling-agent documents at Palaparthi and BTech Ravi's presence inside polling booths in Pulivendula, where rigging continued unchecked. In Lingala mandal, TDP goons attacked Sakshi journalist Pullareddy and destroyed his mobile phone, yet police took no action.

He said YSRCP agents were forcibly dragged out of polling stations at Nallabreddypalle in Penagaluru mandal. Similar booth capturing and rigging continued across Pulivendula, Srikakulam, Anantapur, Nandyal, Sri Sathya Sai, Nellore, Chittoor, Tirupati, Prakasam, Kandukur, Singanamala, Chandragiri and Punganur.

He questioned why police, entrusted with protecting voters and ensuring free elections, were instead shielding TDP goons while election officials remained silent spectators.