Andhra Pradesh local body polls: YSRCP, TDP trade charges

New Delhi: The local body elections in Andhra Pradesh have turned into a major political slugfest, with the Opposition YSRCP alleging that the TDP-led government is using the state machinery to prevent its candidates from filing nominations.

Even as the Supreme Court provided major relief to YSRCP on Wednesday, the principal Opposition party alleged that its candidates trying to file nominations were being targeted and their nomination papers snatched by TDP cadres. YSRCP alleged that former deputy chief minister Narayana Swamy was attacked near the Zilla Parishad chairman's office in Chittoor when he arrived to facilitate the filing of a ZPTC nomination from Penumuru. In a statement, YSRCP alleged that TDP cadres attacked former Mandal Parishad member Madan Reddy in Chandragiri. The Opposition party also released more videos on Wednesday, alleging violence by ruling party cadres.

TDP, however, said that YSRCP was trying to create a crisis knowing that it was losing elections. TDP national spokesperson Jyothsna Tirunagari said, "Previously, YSRCP had filed 60 cases to obstruct the local body elections. Similarly, they are trying to take isolated cases of disturbance and paint it as a state-wide issue. Of the 19 municipalities cited in its complaint, eight are in the erstwhile united Kadapa district, where YSRCP leaders have traditionally wielded considerable influence. With over 23,000 nominations filed across Andhra Pradesh, and more than 1/3rd filed by YSRCP peacefully, there is no law and order issue in the state. YSRCP is desperately trying to use localised incidents to derail the democratic process across the state."


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Earlier, YSRCP chief and former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had alleged that TDP was intimidating YSRCP candidates to prevent them from filing nominations for urban local body elections so that ruling party candidates are elected unanimously without a contest. YSRCP appealed to the State Election Commission to extend the deadline for the publication of the list of contesting candidates for urban local bodies, which was October 21. The party had also sought relief from the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which dismissed its petition. It then approached the SC. The court's decision on Wednesday came as a shot in the arm for the Opposition, which claimed a moral victory.

YSRCP spokesperson Konda Rajiv Gandhi said, "The directions by SC raise serious questions about the conduct of the Chandrababu Naidu government in holding local body elections. The government should facilitate free and fair elections and allow the voters to decide who should win." TDP said it welcomed the Supreme Court's order and fully respected its directions. "The court has entrusted the State Election Commission with examining complaints and taking appropriate decisions based on facts and evidence," said Tirunagari.