Jagan Mohan Reddy Regrets Backing 2023 Election Commission Law

Jagan Mohan Reddy, the YSRCP president and Andhra Pradesh’s chief minister, told reporters on Thursday that his party had erred by backing the 2023 amendment that restructured the appointment of the chief election commissioner. The amendment gave the ruling party a decisive edge in selecting election officials.

The new law created a selection panel of the Prime Minister, a cabinet minister nominated by the PM, and the Leader of the Opposition, while stripping the Chief Justice of India from the process.

Reddy, who had earlier endorsed the mechanism, now urges the return of the former trio that included the CJI, arguing that a neutral body is essential for credible polls.

He also slammed the TDP‑led state government for allegedly snatching nomination papers and harassing YSRCP candidates in Pulivendula, Kadapa, Tirupati and Punganur, and called for central paramilitary deployment to safeguard the local body elections slated for October 28 to December 2. One YSRCP worker, 28‑year‑old S. Ramesh, said his nomination papers were seized while he was waiting at the office.

The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission announced that the polls for 100 urban local bodies will take place on October 28, with counting on October 30, followed by MPTC and ZPTC elections on November 3 and counting on November 5, and Gram Panchayat elections in three phases on November 26, 29 and December 2.