YSRCP President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said on Friday that the state government was ignoring Supreme Court directives and allowing anarchy in local body elections. He accused the TDP‑led administration of snatching ballot papers, forging signatures and attacking YSRCP candidates across Andhra Pradesh. The party leader pointed to 19 municipalities where nominations were obstructed, while the State Election Commission allowed re‑nomination in only a handful of wards in Tirupati, Kadapa, Rajampeta and Mydukur. YS Jagan said that the elections were being held on a party basis and that opposition candidates were being denied the right to file papers. He described the situation as a mockery of democracy that threatens the constitutional order.
The allegations include the arrest of MP YS Avinash Reddy from a party office in Kadapa and the vandalism of former Deputy Chief Minister Narayana Swamy in Chittoor. YSRCP activists reported that ZPTC and MPTC candidates were attacked in Gorantla, Dharmavaram, V. Kota, Tadimarri, Kanigiri and other towns. A photo book titled 'Pachamookala Dadulu' was released to document the violence. The party claims that the State Election Commission has cherry‑picked wards, allowing only 18 of 66 in Kadapa and 11 of 66 in Rajampet for re‑nomination. YS Jagan said that the SEC’s actions were undermining Supreme Court orders and that the state government was playing tricks to keep the opposition out.
In response, YSRCP demands that the Supreme Court appoint an amicus curiae to oversee the polls, deploy central forces, and install CCTV across polling stations. The call comes after YS Jagan said that the party cadre has stood against the tide to preserve democracy. He warned that officials who obstruct nominations will face consequences. The party also demands protection for all contesting candidates. YS Jagan said that the local elections were held despite Covid and a hostile SEC, and that voters had shown a decisive mandate for the YSRCP.
The state government has not yet responded to the demands. The Supreme Court will receive the petition and may order central involvement or other safeguards. The elections are scheduled to be held in the coming weeks, and the legal battle could delay the process. The next step will be the court’s review and any subsequent directives.
One YSRCP candidate, a 45‑year‑old woman from Narsapur, testified that her nomination papers were torn during the filing process by masked men. She said the incident was reported to local police, but no action was taken. Her story underscores the risks that candidates face during these contested elections. The case is now part of the broader legal challenge filed by YSRCP.