Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu fired a salvo against YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday, alleging that the YSR Congress Party had brought gangs from Punjab and other states to stir unrest in Punganur, Rayachoti, Dharmavaram and Darsi. The attack was framed as part of a broader pattern, with Naidu claiming the opposition had filed 60 petitions challenging the local body elections and 300 court applications over teacher recruitment.
Jagan countered that the elections are already marred by a lack of candidates, pointing out eight municipalities where no nominations were filed and 19 where less than 36% of the required nominations appeared. He demanded a centralised nomination system and the deployment of central police to safeguard voters and candidates alike.
The TDP’s allegations of violence are mirrored by the YSRCP’s accusations that local police are protecting TDP workers. An outspoken Darsi MLA, Buchepalli Sivaprasad Reddy, said that police had blocked a candidate’s nomination, citing the need for impartial law‑enforcement.
A family in Rayachoti whose son was barred from filing a nomination described the day as a “night of fear” and said the village council had been forced to postpone a public meeting. The incident illustrates how the political brawl is spilling into ordinary citizens’ lives.
Naidu’s threat to suspend nominations could delay the May 2026 municipal elections while the central government weighs a security deployment. The next week will see the central Home Ministry briefed on the situation, and a decision on whether to impose a provisional election schedule.