YSRCP accuses TDP coalition of subverting local body elections

Anantapur, Nov 6: Former MLA Thopudurthi Prakash Reddy accused the Chandrababu Naidu government of turning local body elections into a farce through police force, intimidation and alleged rigging. Speaking to the media at the YSRCP office in Anantapur, he said the actions had denied people a free and fair vote.

Reddy alleged that nomination papers were forcibly taken from thousands of YSRCP candidates and that many valid nominations were rejected by returning officers. He said party leaders and workers faced false cases and threatening notices. He also claimed that thousands of polling agents were detained from the previous night and that hundreds of former ministers, former MLAs and constituency coordinators were placed under house arrest.

He questioned whether Supreme Court directions on impartial polling and CCTV coverage had been followed. According to Reddy, cameras were installed at only half the polling centres, and footage was not provided to candidates.

He alleged that polling agents were blocked and rigging took place in several areas, including Ramagiri and Kanaganapalli. He also questioned reported vote totals in Dharmavaram, Chilakaluripet and Visakhapatnam, and raised concerns over additional votes recorded after polling hours.

Reddy described the situation as reminiscent of the Emergency and warned that people would resist what he called the coalition government’s authoritarian rule.