TDP manufacturing unopposed victories through Electoral fraud: YSRCP

Vijayawada, Oct 26: YSRCP MLC Lella Appi Reddy and former MLA TJR Sudhakar Babu lodged a complaint with the State Election Commissioner over widespread electoral irregularities, arbitrary nomination rejections and police intimidation. Addressing the media outside the SEC office, they condemned the Chandrababu government for manipulating the nomination process to manufacture uncontested victories despite Supreme Court directions.

Appi Reddy slammed election officials for rejecting nominations on absurd grounds, including misplaced signatures, missing spousal property details and unspecified loan interest, even when certain certificates were not mandatory. Candidates were denied hearings during scrutiny and appeals, while officials refused acknowledgements for submitted B-Forms. In Nellore, appeals were rejected without hearing or recording candidates’ submissions.

He highlighted the midnight detention of Nakarikallu ZPTC candidate Kandula Hanumayamma’s husband, Lakshma Reddy, whose whereabouts police refused to disclose. In Repalle, police pressured Kokkiligadda Bhoolakshmi’s family to force her nomination withdrawal. Houses and vehicles were attacked in Tadipatri, while candidates faced arrests, assaults and campaign obstruction.

Appi Reddy condemned premature declarations of municipal chairperson victories before withdrawal deadlines, disregard of High Court directions in Rajampet, fabricated YSRCP nominations and a circular excluding party symbols from ballot papers. He demanded candidate protection, independent scrutiny and accountability for police, revenue and election officials manipulating records and destroying documents.

Sudhakar Babu stated that YSRCP had repeatedly approached the SEC since October 13. He condemned the misuse of local elections for political interests, warning that even retirement would not shield officials violating Supreme Court directions. He also questioned the ruling leadership’s political future in the event of Junior NTR’s entry.

The leaders warned of approaching the Supreme Court, declaring that governments may change, but democracy, the people and the law remain permanent.