Jagan Alleges Rigging, Intimidation in Andhra Urban Local Body Polls

Former Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has accused the ruling side of large-scale rigging and intimidation during Sunday's urban local body elections in Andhra Pradesh, describing the process as a black chapter for democracy.

In a post on X, Jagan said that rigging carried out in broad daylight, the obstruction and removal of polling agents, and the open threatening of voters who were prevented from exercising their franchise had all happened in front of the police. He also shared a video clip that he said showed alleged rigging and violence by TDP workers during polling.

He highlighted the situation in Pulivendula, his home constituency, where YSRCP polling agents were reportedly barred from entering 70 out of 80 polling stations. Jagan asked who would verify voter identity under such conditions.

According to Jagan, similar incidents were recorded in several other urban local bodies across the state, naming Kadapa, Anantapur, Tirupati, Kurnool, Chittoor, Ongole, Guntur, Nellore, Visakhapatnam (GVMC), Vijayawada, Macherla, Chilakaluripet, Vinukonda, Jammalamadugu, Nandyal, Cheemakurthy, Yemmiganur, Sullurpeta, Palasa, Naidupeta, Nandigama, Jaggayyapeta, Kuppam, Puttur, Bheemunipatnam, Parvathipuram and others.

He charged that under Chandrababu Naidu's government, Andhra Pradesh's electoral system was falling apart and democratic institutions had been completely taken over. "It is no longer an election, it is only your selection," he said, calling it an attack on democracy and an attempt to overturn the public mandate.

Jagan also commended the brave women and dedicated party workers who stood firm until the end to protect democracy.

Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, YSRCP's state coordinator, said the municipal corporation election process had become a farce. He alleged that large-scale manipulation had been used to secure a manufactured victory.

Addressing reporters at the party's central office, Reddy said YSRCP would push for a repoll, raise the irregularities at the national level and approach the courts again.

He said irregularities that began during the nomination process peaked on polling day. Candidates were allegedly stopped from filing nominations, nomination papers were torn, names were removed from final lists, nominations were rejected during scrutiny, and candidates were forced to withdraw. Leaders, he claimed, faced cases, were granted bail and were placed under house arrest.

Sajjala added that the party had approached the Supreme Court with evidence concerning about 1,500 to 2,000 people, but that directions on CCTV surveillance and extending the nomination deadline had not been effectively implemented by the State Election Commission.