TDP afraid to face voters, resorts to violence and intimidation: YSRCP

Narasaraopet, Oct 26:YSRCP leaders Pinnielli Ramakrishna Reddy, Gopireddy Srinivasa Reddy, Kasu Mahesh Reddy and Gajjala Sudheer Bhargav Reddy slammed the Chandrababu Naidu government for turning local body elections into a campaign of violence, intimidation and forced uncontested victories. Addressing the media at the party office in Linganguntla, they charged that TDP leaders, police and election officials were working together to prevent opposition candidates from contesting.

Pinnielli Ramakrishna Reddy stated that TDP workers armed with rods and sticks attacked candidates at nomination centres, tore B-Forms, engineered kidnappings and forced withdrawals. In Chilakaluripet, a minority candidate was forcibly taken away and made to wear a TDP scarf. He challenged Chandrababu to conduct free elections instead of celebrating victories secured by eliminating opponents.

Gopireddy Srinivasa Reddy highlighted the obstruction of MPTC nominations across Palnadu’s seven constituencies. Women candidates faced assaults, their nomination papers and sarees were torn, and TDP workers filed bogus nominations using YSRCP identities. He questioned how preventing opponents from contesting could constitute an electoral victory.

Kasu Mahesh Reddy condemned the denial of voters’ democratic rights and warned that officials involved in electoral manipulation would face legal scrutiny, including a Special Investigation Team under a future YSRCP government.

Sudheer Bhargav Reddy described how police repeatedly denied protection to candidates in Rajupalem despite armed TDP groups blocking access to nomination centres. He compared the prevailing conditions to Bihar’s notorious history of electoral violence.

The leaders warned that political power was temporary and demanded accountability for every attack, illegal obstruction and manipulated nomination.